Donald Trump is “half-awed and half-frightened by Black people” and the only way to deal with African Americans “is to attack them,” says former Trump book collaborator Tony Schwartz.
Schwartz, co-author of Donald Trump‘s The Art of the Deal, takes it even further. He seems to think his ongoing feud with LaVar Ball, father of UCLA baller LiAngelo Ball who was caught shoplifting in China, suggests something deeper about the president’s feelings about Black people in general.
CNN anchor John Berman brought up Trump’s sophomoric Twitter tirade aimed at Ball. Berman wanted to know if Trump’s tweet storm was motivated out of racial animosity toward Black people, or whether he attacked Ball because he failed to adequately thank Trump for playing a role in securing his son’s release from China’s judicial system.
“Both,” Schwartz answered. “First of all, his father is a tall Black man and I think Trump is half awed and half frightened by Black people. And his only way of dealing with them is to attack them. And on the other hand, I think he has a zero tolerance for any criticism of any kind. That’s why he goes after anybody who says virtually anything about him that’s negative.”
Berman said the comments about Trump being “awed and afraid” of Black people is a “big statement.” The anchor pressed Schwartz to elaborate and justify his inflammatory remarks.
“Well, I mean, I watched him. I mean he was awed, unequivocally awed, during the many times I saw him with members of the team he owned in the USFL, and when he sponsored fights — prize fights,” he stated.
“I think he had this kind of ambivalent relationship, where he wished he could have been an athlete like they were,” he says. “And on the other hand, if he felt fear, he always felt aggression … and a need to put them down.”
What do you think about Schwartz’s interesting comments? Do you believe that Trump is awed and frightened by Blacks, Black men in particular?
