Trump camp slams Biden as obstacle to black-owned business rebound

As data show recent riots and the months-long COVID-19 economic shutdown hurt black-owned businesses more than any other racial group, the Trump campaign slammed rival presidential candidate Joe Biden for a "weak" response to these challenges.

Democratic governors generally have been more hesitant to reopen their states' economies than Republicans, leading to criticism from President Trump and his campaign, which argues that delays hurt black-owned enterprises.

The Trump campaign pointed to a new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research showing there has been a a 41% decline in the number of black business owners from February to April of this year, driven by the COVID-19 shutdown.

"President Trump’s background as an entrepreneur and builder shapes his passion for protecting, supporting and empowering American black-owned business owners, especially right now," Paris Dennard, Black Voices for Trump Advisory Board member told Just the News. "Every day Joe Biden fails to strongly call an end to the looting, and rioting in urban cities, more black-owned businesses are destroyed. Every day Joe Biden fails to support efforts to safely and expeditiously re-open the economy, more black businesses are destroyed. The data shows a prolonged economic shutdown hurts black American entrepreneurs, so Joe Biden’s opposition is standing in the way of black generational wealth, growth and opportunities.” 

The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment from Just the News.

Dovetailing the COVID crisis with the rioting and looting in urban core areas — also causing disproportionate harm to black-owned businesses — the Trump campaign charged that Biden has offered a "weak" response in defending the police that protect minority neighborhoods.

Eighteen people were killed in Chicago within 24 hours on May 31 amid rioting and looting sparked by George Floyd's death, marking the city's deadliest day on record in almost 60 years, according to data from the University of Chicago Crime Lab. Over the last three days in May, 85 people were shot in the city, including 25 killed, as gangs took advantage of anarchy in the streets and an overwhelmed police force.

"As the 'Defund the Police' movement continues to radically grow among the Democrat Party, Americans have yet to hear from Joe Biden himself," the Trump campaign said in a statement. "After taking six days to address the defunding the police narrative, his campaign issued a weak statement from a mid-level staffer. Americans deserve to know where Joe Biden truly stands as he refuses to step in and guide his party away from chaos."

The Trump campaign also touted the Paycheck Protection Program signed into law with bipartisan support on Capitol Hill, citing evidence showing the stimulus program jolted businesses into retaining or rehiring workers after the worst of the coronavirus crisis had passed. 

"There's no opportunity without safety," Trump said Thursday at a roundtable at Gateway Church Dallas Campus. "We're saving lives, and we're saving businesses. We're saving families from being wiped out after working hard for 20 and 30 years. I saw the one woman, she worked 35 years building a store, and in one night it was totally wiped out. It's terrible." 

Katrina Pierson, a prominent African-American senior adviser to the Trump campaign, pointed to successes with the black community that pre-dated the current rioting and coronavirus crises.

"Under the president’s policies, the black unemployment rate reached an all-time low before the global pandemic, Historically Black Colleges and Universities were funded at record levels, and real criminal justice reform was achieved," Pierson said in a statement Thursday. "President Trump will continue to fight for all Americans while Joe Biden continues to sow division.”