According to sources who spoke with BuzzFeed News, the White House is working on an executive order about historically black colleges and universities. Three sources who were a part of Trump’s “listening session” about Black History Month on Wednesday morning told BuzzFeed that historically black colleges and universities were discussed by the President and others at the session.
There’s very little information about the potential order, but it was reportedly suggested by Paris Dennard, a political commentator who supported Trump during the election. Dennard said Trump could have a big impact by helping HBCUs, many of which struggled under Obama’s administration. BuzzFeed reports Trump was interested in the idea.
Throughout his campaign, Trump was often accused of being tone deaf on issues related to the black community, often talking as though all black Americans live in the crime-ridden “inner city.” His remarks at the beginning of the Black History Month listening session also drew criticism when he barely mentioned famous black historical figures—For example, he referred to Frederick Douglass in the present tense, leading many to doubt if Trump knows who Douglass is.