Featured
In Surprise to Few, Cohen Says Trump Often Used Racist Language
NNPA NEWSWIRE — As was the case in January, the White House had no initial reaction and no denial to what was reported regarding Cohen’s rendition of what the President said. It would appear that the White House press office has become use to having no reaction to claims that the President has said something racist.
By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor
In a story that won “breaking news” headlines on cable news, former personal attorney for Donald Trump, Michael Cohen, told Vanity Fair that Donald Trump repeatedly used racist language before he was elected.
According to Cohen, Trump engaged in a discussion about former Apprentice contestant Kwame Jackson, an investment banker who graduated from Harvard Business School, that there was no way he could “let this black fag win.” Jackson was on the first season of The Apprentice and came in second.
According to Cohen, Trump said, ‘That’s because black people are too stupid to vote for me,’ in response to a conversation about how a crowd he was about to speak to was almost all white.
Cohen also told the magazine that after Nelson Mandela’s death in December 2013, Trump asked Cohen to “Name one country run by a black person that’s not a shithole.”
That exchange was reminiscent of Trump’s January 11, remarks during a meeting at the White House in the Oval Office with U.S. Senators in which at least one participant relayed that Trump said, “Why do we want all these people from ‘shithole countries’ coming here?” The comment sent off a worldwide firestorm of controversy and revulsion.
As was the case in January, the White House had no initial reaction and no denial to what was reported regarding Cohen’s rendition of what the President said. It would appear that the White House press office has become use to having no reaction to claims that the President has said something racist.
An earlier controversy on August 10 involved a claim by former Apprentice contestant and White House staffer, Omarosa Manigault-Newman. She claimed in a book that Trump was caught on mic saying the n-word “multiple times” during the making of The Apprentice. She also claimed that what was said was recorded on tape.
In the 1973 the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a civil rights suit against the Trump organization, which was Donald Trump and his father Fred for “violating the Fair Housing Act of 1968,” by turning away minority applicants.
In 1989, Trump said, “maybe hate is what we need” during an interview as he referred to the Central Park Five. Trump took out a full-page ad in the New York Times, worth approximately $80,000, calling for the death penalty for the five teenagers in a case reminiscent of the 1931 Scottsboro Boys case.
The five Black and Hispanic men were falsely accused of raping Trisha Meili, a white female better known as the “Central Park Jogger.” The five were falsely accused, prosecuted and served jail time, only to be exonerated years later in Dcember 2014. The five men won a settlement of $41 million and sued the city of New York for an additional $52 million in damages. Trump has never acknowledged their innocence.
Trump’s father, Fred Trump was arrested in 1927 on Memorial Day in 1927 at a Ku Klux Klan march in Queens, NY, to protest Protestant American citizens being “assaulted by Roman Catholic police of New York City.” Fred Trump was arrested “on a charge of refusing to disperse from a parade when ordered to do so,” and the only one of seven men dismissed without charges.
Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist and writer for NNPA as well as a political analyst and communications strategist. She appears regularly on Roland Martin Unfiltered and can be contacted at [email protected] and on twitter at @LVBurke
Featured
Defender ONE-on-ONE: U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee
Texas Congressman Christian Menefee reflects on his first 250 days in the U.S. House. Hear his insights on legislative priorities, minority party challenges, and why every vote matters.
In an exclusive interview with The Defender, Texas Congressman Christian Menefee sits down to reflect on his first 250 days serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Congressman Menefee shares key insights into his legislative priorities, introducing new bills, and navigating the day-to-day challenges of serving in the house minority. He breaks down why every vote matters in shaping our communities and offers a preview of the urgent legislative issues he plans to tackle next.

In this video, you’ll hear about: • Reflections on his first 250 days in Congress • Key legislation introduced and priority bills • Navigating the realities and strategy of serving in the house minority • Why civic engagement and voter participation remain critical • What lies ahead on his legislative agenda

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#ChristianMenefee #USCongress #TexasPolitics #TheDefender #CommunityNews #CivicEngagement #houseofrepresentativeselection2026
Chapters
0:00 Introduction and the Importance of Voting
1:12 First 250 Days and Improving Constituent Services
2:40 Oversight Committee and Environmental Justice
4:05 Rebuilding an Empty Congressional Office
6:10 The SET Act: Ending Vacancies in Representation
8:25 Life in the Minority and Playing Defense
10:45 Foreign Policy, Inflation, and Gas Prices
12:50 Economic Goals: Child Care and Housing
14:20 Redistricting and Respecting Leadership
16:15 The Rotisserie Chicken Vote and SNAP Benefits
18:20 Congressional Black Caucus Highlights
19:45 Final Call to Action for Texas Voters
Make sure to check your voter registration status and head to the polls to make your voice heard in the upcoming election. If you found this update helpful, please like this video and subscribe to stay informed on the issues that matter most to your community. 📢
#TexasPolitics #Congress #Houston #VotingRights #ChristianMenefee
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Black Enterprise
How To Manage Conflict at Work
Learn to leverage conflict, not avoid it! Unlock performance and profits with these expert tips.
Leadership consultant Dethra U. Giles, founder and CEO of ExecuPrep and author of “That’s Not What I Said: Master Conflict With Conversational Competence,” shares her framework for how to stop avoiding tough conversations at work and instead how to start leveraging conflict to unlock performance, productivity, and profits.
Black Enterprise
How To Overcome Financial Setbacks and Win
Layoffs and uncertainty hitting hard? Learn to leverage your mindset and make wealthy decisions to overcome financial setbacks. You can win!
The lives and livelihoods of millions of working professionals, especially Black women, continue to be disrupted by layoffs and economic uncertainty. The difference between surviving and thriving starts with leveraging your greatest asset—your mindset. Money expert and author Dominique Broadway, founder and CEO of Finances De*mys*ti*fied, joins the BE Wealth Accelerator podcast series with a powerful message of encouragement: You can overcome setbacks, face your financial challenges head on, and win—one wealthy decision at a time.
Black Enterprise
How To Overcome Financial Setbacks and Win
Don’t let economic uncertainty derail your dreams. Learn to leverage your mindset, face financial challenges, and win one wealthy decision at a time.
The lives and livelihoods of millions of working professionals, especially Black women, continue to be disrupted by layoffs and economic uncertainty. The difference between surviving and thriving starts with leveraging your greatest asset—your mindset. Money expert and author Dominique Broadway, founder and CEO of Finances De*mys*ti*fied, joins the BE Wealth Accelerator podcast series with a powerful message of encouragement: You can overcome setbacks, face your financial challenges head on, and win—one wealthy decision at a time.
Featured
Sports Talk: Texans vs Cowboys
Sports Talk: Texans vs. Cowboys – Get the latest analysis and opinions on the big game. Visit Defender Network for more!
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Black Enterprise
Social Media Success through Songs
Teach music appreciation with catchy tunes! See how Brandon A. Booth turns popular songs into viral lessons.
From Michael Jackson and Beyonce, to the “Pink Panther” and “Law & Order” theme songs, you’ve probably seen lots of viral videos with hundreds of thousands of views of music students learning popular songs, while using the solfège system of “do re me fa so la ti do.” The beloved music instructor introducing music appreciation to a new generation —in the classroom and on social media — is Brandon A. Booth, Arts Department Chair & Director of Vocal Music at ConneXions: A Community Based Arts School in Baltimore. The Hampton University alum discusses his journey as a Grammy-nominated music educator turned social media sensation, while sharing his love for music with students.
Why A Black Bank Started From A House #shorts
Defender ONE-on-ONE: U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee
How To Manage Conflict at Work
How To Overcome Financial Setbacks and Win
How To Overcome Financial Setbacks and Win
Sports Talk: Texans vs Cowboys
Car Warranty Explained: Battery, Maintenance & Roadside #shorts
Social Media Success through Songs
2026 Voting Guide: Every Candidate and Proposition Explained!
From The Desk of The Editor 10/07/26
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Defender ONE-on-ONE: U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee
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How To Overcome Financial Setbacks and Win
How To Overcome Financial Setbacks and Win
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