Keith Boykin: ‘The Only Reason the Presidential Race Is Close Is Because of White People’

BOYKIN: “Can I say something about this? Because this is what really bothers me when we have this discussion. I never really talk about this because it’s not politically correct to say it, but he’s in a dead heat because of white people. I mean, the majority of white people support Donald Trump, and they have supported him in 2016, they supported him in 2020, and they’ll probably support him in 2024. If it were up to black people, Latinos, and Asian Americans and other people of color, he would lose in a landslide.”
GESSIOTTO: “But he’s gaining a lot more — “
URBAN: “To be fair, he’s gaining African-American men and Hispanics.”
BOYKIN: “I understand that.”
STELTER: “But it’s still about white dominance. It’s still about white dominance.”
BOYKIN: “He’s in the lead because he protects and projects the idea of protecting white supremacy. And that’s what resonates — that’s what resonates — people were talking about economic anxiety in 2016, and then Trump went off and he let a cavalcade of racism.”
URBAN: “It’s not even serious.”
BOYKIN: “I’m a hundred percent sure.”
PHILLIP: “And that’s your theory, Keith.”
BOYKIN: “Yes.”
PHILLIP: “Then to answer what Urban is asking, why then is Trump improving with voters of color?”
BOYKIN: “He’s not improving with voters.”
GESIOTTO: “He is.”
BOYKIN: “No, I’m sorry. He’s not improving with — no.”
STELTER: “I think he is.”
URBAN: “Keith, you’re delusional.”
GESIOTTO: “We have more support than Republicans in the past with both Hispanics and black people right now.”
BOYKIN: “I understand that he has done better than other candidates have done.”
GESIOTTO: “But he’s improving.”
PHILLIP: “Okay, let’s put it this way. He improved on his 2016 performance in 2020, and the polls suggest that he’s improving now.”
BOYKIN: “The Washington Post/Ipsos poll that came out today — “
PHILLIP: “So, even if you go by 2016 or 2020, then why — “
BOYKIN: “The Washington Post/Ipsos poll that came out today said that he’s actually losing support in the black vote.”
GESIOTTO: “New York Times/Siena said the opposite.”
BOYKIN: “And he’s actually — and Kamala Harris is gaining support. The third-party candidates are declining in their support. So, you know — “
URBAN: “Brian’s disagreeing with you!”
STELTER: “He’s clearly growing support.”
BOYKIN: “No, no — “
STELTER: “And this is not just about white dominance. It’s about male dominance.”
PHILLIP: “Hold on, hold on, guys. Brian — “
NAVARRO: “I don’t think any of us — I don’t think most people will be surprised if Donald Trump does better with Latinos and blacks than he did in 2016, than he did in 2020. Listen, what do I hear? I hear people tell me that they like how — they like his mouth. Some people — what turns me off turns some people on. They think he’s being authentic. They think he’s being unfiltered. They think he’s tough.”
URBAN: “True.”
NAVARRO: “They think, you know, he stands up for what he believes. So, it antagonizes most Latinos. It antagonizes most African-Americans. But certainly, there are some people for whom it appeals.”
BOYKIN: “That’s exactly my point though. What I was trying to get at is that, yes, there are — there are a significant number of people of color who support Donald Trump, but that’s still a small, small minority. Especially in the black community, you’re talking about 85 to 90 percent of black people will support Kamala Harris. That — even among black men, you know. So the idea that somehow Donald Trump is winning in large numbers — “
NAVARRO: “It’s the same issue we were talking about with RFK.”
BOYKIN: “No, no.”
NAVARRO: “When you’re talking about the Latinos — “
BOYKIN: “Yeah, I agree with you on that. The margins are very important.”
NAVARRO: “At the swing states where Latinos are, you know, five, six percent in Georgia, they are five, six percent in Pennsylvania, Michigan — “
BOYKIN: “I totally understand. I get that. I’m not saying that that can’t make the difference. I’m just saying that we’re misrepresenting who these communities are. To pick a few unrepresentative black men and say, oh, well, black men are supporting Donald Trump, when 85 to 90 percent of black men are supporting Kamala Harris, obviously it’s completely misleading.”
GESIOTTO: “I think that’s very dismissive of black men.”
PHILLIP: “To be clear, we didn’t say that at this table.”
BOYKIN: “No, I’m not saying you, I’m just saying in general.”
PHILLIP: “But I think Ana’s point is correct, that there is, even if it’s a slight move — “
BOYKIN: “It only takes a few to make a huge difference, yes.”
PHILLIP: “It only takes a few.”
BOYKIN: “Yes, exactly.”
STELTER: “I just want to say, in addition to white dominance, it’s also about preserving the status of men. And we should interrogate, what is it that appeals? I’m not perfect. I learned some of this stuff since I was five or six years old. Men in this society are in a very interesting place right now with what the messaging is from the Trump campaign, and I just think that’s worth interrogating.”
PHILLIP: “All right, everyone.”