Jesse Jackson Criticized Donald Trump Long Before Death, Despite President’s Tribute
Despite President Donald Trump’s recent claim that the Rev. Jesse Jackson “could not stand” former President Barack Obama, Jackson’s own words tell a different story about where he stood politically, particularly when it came to Trump.
Following Jackson’s death at 84, Trump posted on Truth Social praising the civil rights icon as a “force of nature” and asserting that Jackson played a significant role in Obama’s election, “without acknowledgment or credit.” Trump also claimed Jackson “could not stand” Obama and highlighted his past support for Jackson, including providing office space in New York for the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
In the same tribute, Trump centered himself, listing what he described as his accomplishments for Black Americans. He pointed to his support of HBCU funding, the 2018 First Step Act criminal justice reform law, and Opportunity Zones, a tax incentive program championed by Sen. Tim Scott. Trump wrote that he “single handedly pushed and passed long term funding” for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and responded to Jackson’s request to help pass criminal justice reform.
However, federal funding for HBCUs continues to be appropriated annually by Congress rather than permanently guaranteed. Opportunity Zones, while promoted as an economic development tool for Black and low income communities, have faced criticism over whether they meaningfully benefited the neighborhoods they were designed to serve.
Trump also used the tribute to defend himself against accusations of racism, writing that he is “falsely and consistently called a Racist,” before again taking aim at Obama. His comments come just weeks after backlash over a social media post that included a racist depiction of Barack and Michelle Obama. The post was later deleted.
Jackson Warned of Fear and Division
While Trump offered praise after Jackson’s death, the civil rights leader had little praise for Trump during his presidency.
In a 2020 interview with the Australian news program Planet America, Jackson was direct.
“I think that Trump has done an awful lot to set race relations back by inciting fear in people,” Jackson said.
Referring to Trump’s then signature border wall proposal, he added, “The wall is between you and I. Behind the wall is ignorance, fear, hatred and violence… when we pull the walls down, we begin to play ball together.”
His remarks came during the height of the Black Lives Matter uprisings, when Trump threatened to deploy “vicious dogs” on protesters and had demonstrators cleared from Lafayette Square for a photo opportunity with a Bible.
“Trump reversed the norms, and gave white people a sense of unfounded fear,” Jackson said. “It’s based on fear of Black people.”
Trump’s assertion that Jackson “could not stand” Obama oversimplifies a relationship that was at times complicated but publicly supportive.
Before Obama’s historic 2008 election, Jackson criticized him for what he viewed as talking down to Black audiences. However, Jackson later apologized and remained a supporter. On election night in 2008, Jackson was visibly emotional as Obama became the nation’s first Black president.
“I’m a long standing supporter [of Obama] and because of my commitment to what he represents and the campaign, I was quick to apologize for any offense or any harm or hurt,” Jackson said at the time.
Urging Voters to Defeat Trump
As the 2020 presidential election approached, Jackson openly urged Americans to vote Trump out of office.
He called on voters to use their “collective vote to defeat Donald Trump,” warning that the president “represents something dangerous to America.” Jackson criticized Trump’s rhetoric about African and Caribbean nations, his response to white nationalist violence in Charlottesville, and what he described as using the presidency for personal gain.
“I want to see Trump defeated,” Jackson said plainly.
Trump ultimately lost the 2020 election to former President Joe Biden, though he returned to office in 2024. Jackson’s warning in 2020 continues to echo years later.
“The Trump people are determined to undermine that vote,” he said at the time, “though we’re not going to let them.”
