Cowboys For Trump Leader: Trump Campaign Distancing From US

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A group with Cowboys For Trump shows their support for the president in Keystone, S.D. on Friday, July 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Stephen Groves)

RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — The leader of Cowboys for Trump said Friday the reelection campaign for President Donald Trump is distancing itself from the group after the leader posted a video saying some Black athletes should “go back to Africa.”

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Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin told The Associated Press that a Trump campaign representative contacted him this week and said it would distance itself from the group’s activities.

“A campaign representative told me that if someone asked the president about Cowboys for Trump he would have to do that,” Griffin said. “And I understand that. We are not affiliated with the campaign.”

Samantha Zager, Deputy National Press Secretary for Trump’s campaign, did not immediately return an email. While it’s unclear what distancing from the group might mean, Trump has in the past met with the leader and retweeted some of the group’s tweets.

The move comes after Griffin faced criticism this week following his Facebook live video where he chastised Black athletes who support performances at NFL games of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” — traditionally known as the Black National Anthem — as a gesture of solidarity against racial injustice.

“They want to destroy our country. They want to talk about playing a Black national anthem before football games? I got a better idea, why don’t you go back to Africa and form your little football teams over in Africa and you can play on a(n) old beat-out dirt lot and you can play your Black national anthem there. How about that?” Griffin said in the video. “This is America, we play the National Anthem in America today.”

Griffin also offered to give people of color what he called a “101” lesson on racial identity and said anyone who does not identify as “American” first or opposes the Second Amendment right to bear arms should leave the U.S. or “go home.” Statements like “go back to where you came from” is a racist insult aimed for decades at immigrants and African Americans in the United States.

Griffin, who is also an Otero County Commissioner, said he recorded the speech from a southern New Mexico mountaintop after fasting for three days, contemplating the nation’s political fate as the November election approaches.

Democrats, including New Mexico Speaker of the House Brian Egolf and U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, called the remarks racists.

Griffin said he now sees that he chose his words poorly and isn’t a racist despite what critics say.

The Republican also is facing a recall petition to remove him from his Otero County Commissioner’s seat because of his role with Cowboys for Trump that often brings him out of state. Griffin said he admits he’s not “a traditional Otero County Commissioner” and seeks to go “to the top” to address forest issues.


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11 Comments
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AmericanYid
AmericanYid
3 years ago

News like this will sure attract more independent, educated and Black voters to go with trump on Nov 3. Keep it up, maga racists, keep it up.

Es
Es
3 years ago

How does Trump dear to sound racist , only the liberals are allowed

ah yid
ah yid
3 years ago

He’s 100% right. If you can’t stand this country you’re free to go to the country you identify with. The African American community are proud of their origins. If they like America and enjoy the benefits of America then stand for the national anthem and there should be no need to play a special anthem for blacks. I think that’s the racist part in the whole story. Imagine if someone wanted to play a chinese or jewish anthem or special white anthem.

TRUMP FOREVER
TRUMP FOREVER
3 years ago

What’s the next Trump group? Pig breeders for Trump? Shepherds for Trump? Chicken farmers for Trump? Mink breeders for Trump? Shul talkers for Trump? Kiddush fressers for Trump?

AmericanYid
AmericanYid
3 years ago

No ‘Dovid’, only racism sounds racist. Maga celler dwellers wouldn’t know it but Black Americans identify with America, where they’ve been since 1619. They don’t identify with Africa, but are as aware of their relationship with Africa as much as Jews think about ancient Israel. Over 200,000 Black soldiers fought for the Union in the Civil War and a similar amount were in WW2, some liberating Buchenwald. Did ‘frum’ Yidden ever identify with or fight for America?

FYI
FYI
3 years ago

“Did ‘frum’ Yidden ever identify with or fight for America?”

Definitely yes!

How dare you insinuate otherwise!