Kwame Jackson: Trump Uncomfortable with Blacks, N-Word Claim

Kwame Jackson, the runner-up on Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice” in 2004, has stated that he has never seen Trump as comfortable around Black people. This statement came during Jackson’s first public interview after a producer on the show alleged that Trump had used a racial slur against Jackson. In an interview with CNN’s Abby Phillip, Jackson recounted a strained interaction with Trump on the show, suggesting that Trump struggled to understand him.

When asked if he believed Trump would choose a Black person as his running mate, Jackson expressed doubt, stating that he had never seen Trump at ease around Black individuals and suggesting that Trump might only be comfortable with a certain segment of the Black population.

Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, has denied the allegation, calling it a fabricated story that had been previously circulated in 2016. Jackson acknowledged that Trump may still appeal to a small percentage of Black male voters but criticized what he perceived as Trump’s inauthenticity, suggesting that Trump’s demeanor might attract some Black voters despite his past legal issues.

Jackson also appeared on Roland Martin’s show “Unfiltered,” reiterating that he had never personally heard Trump use the racial slur but did not rule out the possibility that Trump had used it behind his back. He praised Bill Pruitt, the producer who made the accusation public, but expressed disappointment that it took 20 years for Pruitt to come forward, attributing the delay to a nondisclosure agreement that had expired.

Jackson speculated that if footage of the alleged incident were made public, it could influence undecided voters, although he believed Trump’s base would remain loyal. Pruitt had previously hinted at the existence of tapes containing damning footage of Trump, similar to the “Access Hollywood” tape that surfaced in 2016.

Allegations of Trump using the racial slur had emerged in 2018 when Omarosa Manigault Newman, another “Apprentice” contestant, claimed in her book that she had heard Trump use the word in reference to Jackson multiple times. Trump denied the accusation, stating that the word was not in his vocabulary. Michael Cohen, a former attorney for Trump, also accused Trump of using racist language in reference to Jackson.

It remains unclear whether footage of the alleged incident exists and where it might be located. Pruitt claimed that the incident occurred before the 2004 finale of “The Apprentice,” during which Jackson and entrepreneur Bill Rancic competed for Trump’s approval. Jackson has expressed willingness to pursue legal action to compel the release of any tapes that might corroborate his claims.