On Wednesday, the executive committee of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) will gather for a private meeting with President Donald Trump.
According to a written release, the discussion will center on issues directly impacting the African-American community, including proposed budget cuts, plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, education (including HBCUs), criminal justice reform, infrastructure and economic opportunity for urban and rural communities.
Unlike other highly publicized meetings between Trump and Black leaders, CBC Chairman Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-La.), states this gathering is of a more critical nature.
“This will be a serious meeting, not a photo opportunity,” Richmond said.
Richmond said the CBC has received numerous comments from Black constituents around the country voicing their concerns over the Trump administration, as well as some who felt that a CBC/Trump meeting would be a bad idea.
“I decided to accept the president’s meeting request, because there is no one around him who can provide the perspective and expertise that the CBC can provide. I hope the president leaves the meeting with a better understanding of the challenges African-Americans face and how racism and discrimination in this country helped create those challenges,” said Richmond.
Also scheduled to attend the meeting is CBC first vice-chair Andre Carson (D-Ind.) On Monday, Carson — a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence — issued a statement on the Trump administration’s alleged Russian ties.
“I was pleased to see Director Comey publicly confirm that the FBI and DOJ are actively investigating Russian interference into our election and possible coordination with the Trump campaign. Their continued cooperation will be vital in the coming weeks and months, particularly as we pursue today’s unanswered questions in a classified forum,” said Carson.
“Director Comey also confirmed, as most national security professionals long suspected, that there is no evidence to back Trump’s outlandish claim that President Obama wiretapped him. It was illegal and impossible given the way our wiretapping programs operate. Going forward, I am hopeful that President Trump can set aside this dishonest distraction and return his focus to running our government.”
