On Thursday, former Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Michael Steele appeared on MSNBC to discuss President Trump’s meeting with rapper Kanye West.
During the segment, Steele said that the president’s meeting with an African American celebrity didn’t “absolve” him of other things he’s done or allegedly said:
Given the tragedy that’s in Florida; given the international concern regarding a Washington Post reporter; the president entertaining an artist – okay, fine – who then comes into the Oval Office. It becomes a backdrop. And he proceeds to bang on the Resolute desk; he begins to use foul language in that space. To me it’s unsettling. And I think to Chris’ point, that’s the “genius” of Trump, that he offsets these very important things with this kind of maniacal madness known as reality TV presidential politics.
The fact of the matter is, I’m sorry, meeting with Kanye does not absolve you of your position on Charlottesville; it does not absolve you talking about the continent where my ancestors came from as an s-hole; it does not absolve you of building a wall, or absolve you of locking immigrant children in cages. So you can meet with Kanye; you can have your bromance moment – but the American people see through it and see it for what it is. And if you think the black community is now gonna to wake up and go, “Well damn, he met with Kanye. I think I’ll go vote for Trump!” That’s not how that ish works.