DNC hits Trump for his record with Black voters, a rally in 2022 featuring President Biden was fuller than Trump’s rally on Saturday at the same venue

Last week, the Democratic National Committee launched a blistering billboard and digital ad campaign slamming Trump as a “disaster for Black Americans” ahead of his Philadelphia rally. As part of the campaign, the DNC launched billboards reminding voters of Trump’s repeated insults and failure to deliver results for the Black community. The DNC also launched kiosk ads uplifting President Biden and Vice President Harris’ student debt relief efforts. 

Take a look at some of the coverage: 

CBS News: DNC plans to hit Trump in Philadelphia on his relationship with Black community

[Shawna Mizelle, 6/21/24]

“When former President Donald Trump shows up at Temple University for a rally Saturday, the Democratic National Committee will have a message for him — and the party is doing its best to make sure he sees it, too, with a billboard, a mobile billboard and kiosks in buildings around the campus where the rally will take place. 

“’Donald Trump is coming to North Philly, but he can’t fool us,” the mobile billboard reads. ’He’s a disaster for Black Americans.’ 

“The kiosks, taking aim at Trump’s relationship with the Black community and young voters, highlight President Biden’s student loan forgiveness efforts. They’ll be placed in buildings across the campus, and there will be a billboard saying, ’If Trump wins, Black families lose’ along I-95.”

[…]

“In a statement, DNC spokesperson Abhi Rahman reiterated that Trump was ’a disaster for minority communities — particularly Black Americans.’

“He says he’s not racist, but his record says differently. Over and over again, he has insulted predominantly Black cities, and during his time in office, jobs disappeared, unemployment more than doubled for Black Americans during the pandemic, and his tax scam widened the racial wealth gap,’ Rahman said. 

“Rahman also argued Black wealth hit a record low under Trump, while small, Black-owned businesses started at a higher rate under the Biden administration.”

NBC News: Democrats to attack Trump’s record with Black voters near his Philadelphia rally

[Alexandra Marquez, 6/21/24]

“The Democratic National Committee plans to target former President Donald Trump with billboards and posters in Philadelphia this weekend, including around and potentially inside the arena where he is set to rally supporters. 

“Kiosks across the Temple University campus in north Philadelphia will boost President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, highlighting positive messages about their efforts to forgive federal student debt.

[…]

“Just off campus, the DNC plans to attack Trump’s record with Black voters, calling him ‘a disaster for Black Americans.’

“A billboard near the campus will read, ’If Trump wins, Black families lose,’ claiming he plans to ’sabotage Obamacare, [pass] tax breaks for the rich, and slash Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.’

“The billboard also claims Trump ’was a disaster for Black Americans’ and ’left [office] with nearly 10% Black unemployment, sabotaged Obamacare, passed tax breaks for the rich [and] put our communities last.’

“A mobile billboard that will circle the campus will feature a short video that includes clips of political analysts accusing Trump of spurring high levels of unemployment in Black communities.”

Black Enterprise: DNC Prepares To Show Black Voters What Trump Thinks About Them Ahead of Rally in Philadelphia 

[Sharelle Burt, 6/21/24]

“As former President Donald Trump prepares for a rally at Philadelphia’s Temple University, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) will greet him with messaging on a billboard, a mobile billboard, and kiosks in campus buildings to show Black voters what he thinks of them. 

“As the DNC aims to shine a light on the heights President Joe Biden has reached with student loan forgiveness efforts, all of the ads are aimed at Trump’s relationship with the Black community and young voters. ‘Donald Trump is coming to North Philly, but he can’t fool us,’ the mobile billboard reads. 

“‘He’s a disaster for Black Americans.’

“Ads will be seen in buildings across campus but those attending the rally won’t have to go to Temple University to see the attacks on Trump. Supporters and residents will see a huge billboard along I-95 reading, ‘If Trump wins, Black families lose.’ 

“Following Trump’s appearance at a Black church in Detroit on June 15 — where he called Biden the ‘worst president for Black people’ — DNC spokesperson Abhi Rahman pushed back, labeling the indicted businessman as ‘a disaster for minority communities — particularly Black Americans.’ ‘He says he’s not racist, but his record says differently,’ Rahman said. 

“‘Over and over again, he has insulted predominantly Black cities, and during his time in office, jobs disappeared, unemployment more than doubled for Black Americans during the pandemic, and his tax scam widened the racial wealth gap.’” 

The Root: Trump Came For Black Voters in Philadelphia, But They Didn’t Let Him Get Away With It

[Phenix S. Halley and Candace McDuffie, 6/23/24]

“Also, the Democratic National Committee is not taking Trump’s attempts to sway Black voters lightly. Posters and billboards were placed all around Philly identifying how another Trump term would be detrimental for Black folks.

“A billboard set up near the Temple campus reminded people that Trump ‘was a disaster for Black Americans’ and that ‘If Trump wins, Black families lose.’ It also read that Trump ‘left [office] with nearly 10% Black unemployment’ and will ‘sabotage Obamacare, [pass] tax breaks for the rich, and slash Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.’”

CNN: Trump spends last Saturday before debate meeting with Christian voters and courting Pennsylvanians

[Steve Contorno, 6/22/24]

“Ahead of Trump’s Saturday rally, the Democratic National Committee unveiled new ads it said were aimed at highlighting ‘Trump’s history of failing Black Americans and how he’s left the Black community behind.’ The counter-messaging push comes as polls show that Black men are more open to supporting the Republican nominee in this year’s election than they have historically been.

“Along with a billboard in Philadelphia, the DNC planned to deploy at the former president’s rally a mobile billboard that highlighted the higher unemployment rates for Black Americans under the Trump administration compared with the Biden administration. The committee planned ‘pro-Biden kiosks’ around Temple University, where Trump’s rally was held, that highlighted the student loan debt relief and increase in public education funding delivered under the Biden administration.

“‘Donald Trump was a disaster for minority communities – particularly Black Americans. He says he’s not racist, but his record says differently. Over and over again, he has insulted cities with significant Black communities, and during his time in office, jobs disappeared, unemployment more than doubled for Black Americans during the pandemic, and his tax scam widened the racial wealth gap,’ DNC spokesperson Abhi Rahman said in a statement.”

The Guardian: Trump’s sledgehammer message to Philadelphia is light on facts, heavy on fear

[David Smith, 6/23/24]

“Democrats set up posters, billboards and kiosks in Philadelphia and on the Temple campus to promote Biden’s policies, including his efforts to forgive student debt, as well as to criticise Trump’s record with the Black community.”

Philadelphia Inquirer: These are the protests lined up for Trump’s rally at Temple

[Fallon Roth and Susan Snyder, 6/21/24]

“The national Democratic Party is launching new ads just in time for Trump’s arrival at Temple in the form of billboards, pro-Biden kiosks touting Biden’s policies for students, and a mobile billboard that will circle campus.

“The billboard, located south on I-95 at the east side of Westmoreland, will display an ad about Trump’s relationship with Black Americans. The mobile billboard will also explore Trump’s relationship with Black Americans and mention North Philadelphia.

“‘Donald Trump was a disaster for minority communities — particularly Black Americans. He says he’s not racist, but his record says differently,’ said Abhi Rahman, a DNC spokesperson, noting unemployment rates and the racial wealth gap during Trump’s presidency.

“Rahman also emphasized the importance of reelecting Biden and Harris to maintain their student debt forgiveness policies.

“‘President Biden is pro-education, full stop. When it comes to communities of color and students, the choice for President couldn’t be clearer,’ Rahman said.”

Raw Story: Philadelphians greet Trump with ‘Your Nominee Is A Convicted Felon’ billboard before rally

[M.L. Nestel, 6/21/24]

“​​And the Democratic National Committee plans to target Trump with other billboards to push ‘historic increase in higher education funding including Pell Grants for current students” and claim Biden “fixed public service loan forgiveness, including for teachers, nurses and firefighters.’”

A rally featuring Joe Biden in 2022 was fuller than Trump’s 2024 rally at the same venue. Here are some of the highlights from social media below:

@harryjsisson: HAHAHA! President Biden’s campaign just BLASTED Donald Trump for his small crowd size in Philly yesterday! When Biden spoke there, he filled the venue top to bottom! Can’t wait to see MAGA lose their minds over this one!

@Allyson_Bayless: The pathetic turnout at Trump’s Philly “rally” demonstrates just how ready the city is to reject him yet again this November. Upper bowl of the Liacouras Center is “empty,” and the crowd is (big surprise) “overwhelmingly white.” 👀

@BrendanMcP: This is what a full Liacouras Center looks like

@LRinaldiArt: Last time I was at the Liacouras Center to see the president it was pretty packed

@SwissWatchGuy: Here is a video of Trump at his rally tonight in swing state PA at Temple University’s Liacouras Center, capacity 10,200. It’s half empty. Zero attendees in the upper bowl. Odd for a guy that brags about pulling 100k ppl in NJ and 30k in the Bronx. 🤔

@fallonroth_: Trump took the stage at The Liacouras Center on time at 7 p.m. There are people standing in the aisles on the floor and around the perimeter on the lower level, but the upper level is still completely empty.

@scontorno: Former President Trump takes the stage in Philadelphia. Here’s how The Liacouras Center looks as he begins.