Black Entertainment Television founder and longtime Democrat Robert Johnson believes that Democrats have become too liberal and that they have to make some changes if they want to beat President Trump in 2020. In turn, Johnson praised the president for his recent accomplishments.
What We Know:
- When asked about America’s current political climate, Johnson said “The party in my opinion, for me personally, has moved too far to the left,” he told CNBC. Which is why he currently isn’t supporting any candidates.
- Johnson publicly supported Hilary Clinton candidacy in 2016 but has recently praised some of Trump’s policies. He gives Trump credit for America’s economy. “It’s reaching populations that heretofore had very bad problems in terms of jobs and employments and the opportunities that come with employment … so African-American unemployment is at its lowest level,” Johnson said.
- Johnson became America’s first African-American billionaire after founding BET in 1980 with a $150,000 loan and sold it for $3 billion in 2001, according to Forbes.
- LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, told the Washington Post that the 73-year-old entrepreneur is not working class, therefore “he does not reflect the issue, nor does he even seem like he has the ability to speak to the issues of the working class.” Brown noted that the working class doesn’t benefit from Trump’s tax break. “In and of itself, to make that statement says to me that he’s simply out of touch.”
Similarly, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown made statements about the 2020 candidates and believe they don’t stand a chance against Trump.
