A recent report by Reuters has highlighted a remarkable distinction within the lineage of U.S. presidents. It reveals that Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, stands alone as the only living current or former U.S. president who does not have ancestors who were slaveholders.
Presidents and Lawmakers
In an unsurprising finding, a large number of presidents, lawmakers, and Supreme Court justices, are the descendants of people who owned slaves. Though not entirely shocking, the revelation highlights the way power and wealth are passed down through generations.
Presidential Ancestry and Slavery
The report found that Presidents Biden, Carter, George W. Bush, Clinton, and Obama all have ancestors who participated in the ownership of enslaved Black people. Trump, given that his family didn’t arrive in the U.S. until after slavery was abolished, did not. Notably, President Obama’s ancestral link to the practice stemmed from his White mother’s side.
The U.S. Congress
The report’s scope extends beyond the presidency to encompass the U.S. Congress. Reuters identified at least 100 lawmakers with ancestral ties to slaveholders, comprising 28 senators and 72 representatives.
The Prominent Figures
Among the aforementioned prominent figures were Senators Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Tom Cotton, and James Lankford, representing the Republican party, as well as Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, Jeanne Shaheen, and Maggie Hassan.
The Supreme Court Connection
The report found that even the Supreme Court isn’t exempt from the shocking findings. Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch both have ancestors who were slaveholders. Additionally, a separate report from The Washington Post revealed that Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson had ancestors who were enslaved, while her husband, Patrick Jackson, had ancestors who participated in slaveholding.
The Enduring Ramifications of Slavery
This report came to light during a time of heightened national discourse regarding reparations and the enduring ramifications of slavery in the United States. Several states, including California, have initiated inquiries into the feasibility of a reparations program.
California’s Reparations Task Force
California’s Reparations Task Force recommended offering payments of up to $1.2 million to qualifying Black residents. However, this proposal proved divisive – even within the Democratic Party – as Governor Gavin Newsom declined to endorse payments, emphasizing the need for a broader national dialogue on reconciling the nation’s history of slavery.
The Internet’s Response
News of the report’s findings was shared across the internet and the responses were very interesting. One person, referring to the findings about Trump, said: “No, they redlined Black [people] instead. Both he and his father were fined for the practice in NYC. The only thing that stopped these racist creeps from owning other humans is slavery was illegal by the time they were unfortunately born.”
Refusing Applications From Black People
Replying to the aforementioned commenter, another person said: “Yup. They would refuse applications from Black [people] while advertising to White [people] and they did pay a very small settlement in the form of equal advertising policies and application ‘acceptance.’ Who got in was a different matter.”
Potential Misplaced Concerns
Another person wrote: “I am more concerned about what the living president did than what his ancestors did. Do they mention whether any of the current living presidents had ancestors who were functionally illiterate? I mean, Trump is so maybe it is hereditary.”
A Confused Response
Others were confused. “I am not sure of the point of this,” one person said about the report. “[They’re] trying to create ‘positive’ dialogue about Trump since the counter term to his legacy will always be the only president to be indicted [four] times and possibly face prison charges, excessive fines, state charges, and espionage against the USA. But cheer up, Trump never owned slaves! Absurd argument,” another person replied.
A Sarcastic Response
Some people responded with sarcasm. One person, in regard to Trump, said: “Well I guess I’m going to have to vote for [the] fascist then. That just changes everything. Never mind that he’d end Social Security and Medicare, Christianize the education system, and deny science. What happened 200 years ago is much more important.”
A Strange Point
Trump supporters used the results in an attempt to get people to join their side. In response, one person said: “Am I not supposed to vote for Biden or something because he can be genetically linked to what my ancestors went through more than 150 years ago? What a strange point to make as a conservative as well.”
Donald Trump’s Response
Donald Trump referred to the results in a social media post. He wrote: “President Joe Biden and every living president – except Donald Trump – are direct descendants of slaveholders. Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and – through his White mother’s side – Barack Obama.”
We Got Him
Plenty of people saw humor in Trump’s words. “He’s admitting Biden is president?” one person asked. “Ladies and gentlemen,” a second person replied. “WE,” a third said. “GOT,” a fourth added. “HIM,” a fifth concluded.
The Sins of the Father
Others doubted the report but stated that, even if it is true, it doesn’t make Trump any better. One person said: “Even if this is true, the sins of the father are not the sins of the child. Is the assumption here that all U.S. presidents are essentially racist by the actions of their ancestors?”
Trying to Make Trump Look Good
Another person said: “The right really will drag up anything to try and make Trump look good, huh? I’m sure if Trump’s family had been in the U.S. earlier, they would’ve had slaves. Also, Trump is literally racist now. That’s more important than who was racist generations ago.”
Trump’s Documented Racism
Others echoed the aforementioned individual. “It’s really weird that conservatives seem to think this is proof that Trump isn’t racist or something. He’s hella racist and it’s documented. Also, his family absolutely would have had slaves if they were in this country before slavery was abolished,” one person wrote.
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