Neither the Trump administration nor the president himself are known for being a friend of minorities. The president routinely makes his opinions loud and clear with little regard for the fact that he is supposed to be leading the United States and not just using it as a tool to further his agenda.
In that light, he has repeatedly come under fire for reported incendiary racist comments, with these reports not always relying on behind the scenes testimony. For instance, last year after white supremacist-fueled violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, left three people dead, Trump initially refused to single out the white supremacists for any special condemnation, instead sticking to the line that “both sides” were responsible for what went on.
More recently, Trump came under fire for reports of him having referred to nations including El Salvador, Haiti, and some African nations as “shithole countries,” although Trump has now gotten around to issuing an unsurprising denial of those reports.
Now, a perhaps surprising voice is speaking out against the president — famous neurosurgeon, 2016 Republican presidential primary contender, and current Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson.
Carson is a member of Trump’s Cabinet, but that didn’t stop him from coming down on the president in remarks, delivered on this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Himself an African American, Carson made his name during his rise to prominence during the presidential race for his devout Christianity, sometimes earning mocking condemnation for his viewpoints.
On Monday, while speaking to the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Carson revealed a side of himself that perhaps we might see more of if his position in the government was more public-facing.
He told the crowd:
‘I’m a member of this administration, and I don’t agree with the president about everything that he says, or of how it’s said… If the way you say things is so inflammatory that people can’t hear your message, it’s not helpful, and that’s why I don’t do that anymore. I pray that God take that spirit away from me and give me the spirit of love.’
Check out the video below.
Sec. Carson at #MLKDay memorial service: “You know, I’m a member of this administration, and I don’t agree with the president about everything that he says… or of how it’s said.” pic.twitter.com/bORtzXclES
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 15, 2018
Carson actually appeared alongside the president himself last Friday when Trump signed the official proclamation making this Monday this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day, commenting at the time about the continued importance of taking Dr. King’s message to heart.
https://youtu.be/H-RXRmjcUIo?t=3m48s
Another instance of Carson in the spotlight came late last year when Trump asked Carson to pray before a Cabinet meeting while the press was in attendance. At the time, Trump quipped that the press needed the prayer more than he or his Cabinet members did.
On more of the policy side of things, breaking with Trump administration precedent, Carson recently announced “a record-breaking $2 billion grant for homeless programs across the country,” as Newsweek put it.
Carson is one of many members of the Trump administration to have had no experience in government before assuming their present position, it’s worth noting.
Featured Image via Screenshot from the Video
