Donald Trump’s Michigan trip includes stop at black church before TPUSA rally

Donald Trump will use back-to-back stops Saturday to court black voters and a conservative group accused of attracting white supremacists as the Republican presidential nominee works to bring together a coalition of historically divergent interests in battleground Michigan.

Trump is expected to hold an afternoon panel discussion at an African-American church in downtown Detroit. He will later appear at the “People’s Convention” of Turning Point Action, a group that the Anti-Defamation League says is linked to various extremists.

About 24 hours before Trump plans to address the conference, the notorious white supremacist Nick Fuentes entered the Turning Point convention hall surrounded by a group of enthusiastic supporters. He was quickly evacuated by the security services.

Fuentes created political problems for Trump after he attended a private lunch with the former president and the rapper formerly known as Trump. Kanye West at Trump’s Florida estate in 2022.

Trump’s plans for the weekend underscore the shifting political forces shaping this fall’s presidential election as he attempts to negate the Democratic president. Joe Biden a second term.

Turning Point has become a force in Republican politics in the Trump era, particularly within his “Make America Great Again” movement, despite the ADL’s warning that the group “continues to attract racists” .

“Many people associated with the group have made bigoted statements toward the Black community, the LGBTQ community, and other groups,” the ADL, an international anti-hate group, wrote in a background note . “While TPUSA (Turning Point USA) leaders say they reject the ideology of white supremacy, well-known white nationalists have attended their events.”

A Turning Point spokesperson did not respond to questions about the ADL’s characterization.

Turning Point, long popular among Trump’s MAGA fringe, is now a central player in mainstream Republican politics. The group’s weekend speaking schedule included a long list of established Republican politicians, including U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.

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Republished with permission from the Associated Press.

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