Trump downplays legacy of slavery in appeal to white voters

President Donald Trump intensified efforts to appeal to his core base of white voters on Thursday by downplaying historical legacy of slavery in United States and blasting efforts to dress systemic racism as divisive.

president’s comments marking 233rd anniversary of signing of Constitution amounted to a defense of white culture and a denunciation of Democrats, media and ors who he accused of trying to indoctrinate school children and shame ir parents’ “whiteness.”

He also argued that America's founding “set in motion unstoppable chain of events that abolished slavery, secured civil rights, defeated communism and fascism and built most fair, equal and prosperous nation in human history.” But he did t mention 246 years of slavery in America, including 89 years it was allowed to continue after colonies declared independence from England. r did president ackwledge ongoing fight against racial injustice and police brutality, which has prompted months of protests this year.

Trump has long fanned nation's culture wars, including defending display of Confederate battle flag and monuments of Civil War rebels from protesters seeking ir removal. His speech Thursday suggested his rhetoric could become even more pointed in final weeks before election, given that his path to a second term relies largely on energizing culturally conservative white voters.

“For many years w, ricals have mistaken Americans’ silence for weakness. But y are wrong,” Trump said. “re is more powerful force than a parent’s love for ir children — and patriotic moms and ds are going to demand that ir children are longer fed hateful lies about this country.”

Trump has alrey cracked down on anti-racism training sessions in federal ncies. He said Thursday he will soon sign an order to establish a commission to promote patriotic education dubbed 1776 Commission. panel, he said, would be tasked with encouraging educators to teach students “about miracle of American history” and plan for commemoration of 250th anniversary of signing of Declaration of Independence.

move is a response to New York Times' “1619 Project,” which highlights long-term consequences of slavery and contributions of Black Americans.

project began after New York Times Magazine published a series on 400th anniversary of slavery in United States. Nikole Hannah-Jones won a Pulitzer Prize for her piece in magazine. Her essay was titled “ 1619 Project,” because in late August of that year, a ship arrived in American with some 20 to 30 enslaved Africans, marking first arrival of slaves.

project evolved from essay and, with help from Pulitzer Center, educational materials were developed to enhance kwledge about slavery, t rewrite history, according to Times.

“American parents are t going to accept indoctrination in our schools, cancel culture at work, or repression of tritional faith, culture and values in public square,” Trump said. “t anymore.”

In response to Trump’s remarks, Hannah-Jones said First Amendment to Constitution abhors government attempts to censor speech and guarantees a free press.

“ efforts by president of United States to use his powers to censor a work of American journalism by dictating what schools can and cant teach and what American children should and should t learn should be deeply alarming to all Americans who value free speech,” she said.