Donald Trump met with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s oldest son on Monday, The New York Times reports. Trump’s spokesman said that this meeting was to discuss the late King’s legacy and observe the holiday of the civil rights icon.
Given the recent tensions between Trump and many prominent black elected officials—especially Georgia Democrat John Lewis, who fought alongside King during the civil rights movement—this meeting is unexpected. The announcement of the meeting came via Sean Spicer, Trump’s press secretary, on Twitter.
Today we observe the birthday of #MartinLutherKing – @realDonaldTrump will meet with Martin Luther King III to discuss his legacy #MLKDAY
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) January 16, 2017
Just two days prior, Trump was attacking Lewis on the same platform because Lewis said in an interview that he would not be attending the inauguration, and did not see Trump as a legitimate president due to the questions surrounding Russia and the election. Trump’s response was to call Lewis, who was beaten in the “Bloody Sunday” march in Selma, Ala. in 1965, “all talk,” and to say that he should be focusing on his crime-infested Georgia district instead of “falsely complaining” about election results.
Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2017
mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk – no action or results. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2017
First of all, how does one complain falsely? Second of all, Lewis’s district in Atlanta encompasses the wealthy Buckhead, the busiest airport in the world, Hartsfield-Jackson International, the CDC and Georgia Tech, as the Times points out.
Trump later added that Lewis should help him focus on “burning and crime infested inner-cities” throughout the United States. “I can use all the help I can get!” (Yeah, he can.)
Congressman John Lewis should finally focus on the burning and crime infested inner-cities of the U.S. I can use all the help I can get!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2017
In a television interview with CBS, Spicer claimed that Lewis had started the fight, and that the president-elect won’t just sit back and take attacks without responding. (We’ve noticed.)
According to USA Today, the meeting between Trump, King, and others took place at Trump Tower in Manhattan, where they discussed voting rights and other ways of keeping with King’s legacy during the Trump administration. King called the meeting “extraordinarily constructive,” so there’s that.
For many years our country has been divided, angry and untrusting. Many say it will never change, the hatred is too deep. IT WILL CHANGE!!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2017
Celebrate Martin Luther King Day and all of the many wonderful things that he stood for. Honor him for being the great man that he was!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2017
These tweets and the meeting may be good PR for Trump, but it’s probably not worth holding your breath for Trump to get serious about protecting civil rights.