Democratic media mogul and Black Entertainment Television (BET) founder Bob Johnson took to the airwaves of CNBC on Monday, following a meeting he had with President-elect Donald Trump at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Johnson, seemingly heartened by the meeting, relayed a message to the black community after their “great chat”: Give Mr. Trump a chance.
The BET founder, who supported Hillary Clinton during the election, stressed the importance of shedding partisanship, and explained that if Trump wants to lead all people and help to advance African-Americans in particular, the black community should “give him the benefit of the doubt” and try to work with him.
“Let’s give him a shot,” he stated. “Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt; see if we can find common ground.”
According to Johnson, the two men discussed “business solutions to social problems” and how the president-elect can “better reach out to the African-American community.”
As noted by Johnson, Trump repeatedly suggested during the campaign that African-Americans have nothing to lose by giving him a chance and rejecting the Democratic policies which have devastated the black community for decades.
“The real question you should be asking is what do African-Americans have to gain from your presidency,” rebutted Johnson, to which he said Trump agreed.
“Trump is a business guy, and I think he’s going to tilt towards finding ways to use fiscal policy… to move the economy forward,” Johnson said. “Let’s give him a shot. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt; see if we can find common ground.”
“That’s what’s best for African-Americans,” he added.
“Black Americans should have no permanent friends, and no permanent enemies, just permanent interests,” said Johnson, paraphrasing Congressional Black Caucus member Rep. Bill Clay Sr.
“That’s where African-American voters should be,” Johnson asserted. The black community should only have “permanent interests,” he said.
Johnson made it clear that he has no intention of serving in a Trump Administration. The chances of that happening are “subzero,” he joked. “[I’ve] never worked for the government… and never wanted to work for the government,” he said.
Watch the CNBC interview, below: