President Joe Biden’s media allies are scrambling to halt his decline among black voters by reviving a race hoax against former President Donald Trump that failed to gain traction in 2016 and 2018.
Bill Pruitt, a producer for “The Apprentice,” alleged in Slate that Trump used the N-word during the show’s first season. Pruitt claims he waited to share this allegation until now due to a conveniently timed expiration of his nondisclosure agreement, coinciding with Biden’s struggles with black voters.
Pruitt’s allegation was supposedly “caught on tape,” but Slate does not provide any audio evidence. Similarly, in 2016, Slate published a piece questioning whether there was footage of Trump using the N-word on “The Apprentice,” without presenting any evidence. Despite acknowledging the lack of evidence, Slate justified spreading the hearsay claim.
However, no tangible evidence has ever surfaced, and no other outlet has independently confirmed the authenticity of these claims. CNN also acknowledges they are also unable to confirm the existence of that tape as well.
Biden’s campaign responded by labeling Trump a “textbook racist,” emphasizing his alleged disrespect towards the Black community. They are keenly aware of the threat posed by Trump’s increasing support among black voters. Recent polls indicate a notable shift, with 18 percent of black voters expressing support for Trump or leaning towards voting for him. Meanwhile, a Wall Street Journal poll from March also found that across Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Biden is winning roughly 68 percent of the black vote — a historically low number.
Biden’s campaign is mindful of the importance of black voters, who played a crucial role in securing his victory in 2020. They understand the risks of underestimating Trump’s appeal, as evidenced by Biden’s recent visit to a majority-black school in Philadelphia.
Like Hillary Clinton in 2016, Biden cannot afford to overlook the significance of black voters. Clinton’s loss in states like Wisconsin, where she assumed victory, serves as a cautionary tale. Biden must inspire enthusiasm among voters, especially black voters, to avoid a similar fate.
