Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) responded to MSNBC host Joy Reid after she described him in negative racial terms. The comments came as Donalds has risen in the Republican Party and has been mentioned as a possible vice presidential pick or candidate for governor of Florida.
Reid described Donalds recently as the “one Black guy that Republicans love to roll out as fake proof that Black people, the Blacks, are MAGA, they’re MAGA. It’s a joke, and just as credible as when they said they were going to make that guy Speaker of the House.”
Donalds said that he believed Reid’s comments were “nothing more than crabs in a barrel.” The comment described the habit of crabs in a bucket to pull others down rather than allow them to climb out.
This was not the first time that Reid made negative comments about Donalds. When he was nominated for Speaker of the House in 2023, Reid said that it was a fake effort and said that “Any Black guy will do.”
She further criticized other leading Black conservatives, including Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
“Just because I have a different viewpoint, different way of looking at the world, different politics, now, all of a sudden, I’m being used. You can make an argument that MSNBC is using her,” he said.
Donalds has been considered as a potential vice presidential pick for former President Donald Trump. Trump has praised the young representative but has not yet mentioned him as a potential VP pick.
However, it appears more likely that Donalds would seen the governorship of Florida at the end of current Gov. Ron DeSantis’ (R) term. The Republican could face a number of primary opponents but may be well-positioned for Trump’s endorsement.
Americans are done with Biden's failures, negativity, demonization & division.
Americans want a positive, uplifting & unifying message from their leaders & that's what Trump & @GOP are offering in 2024.
We can get the job done for ALL AMERICANS, but it starts with FIRING BIDEN. pic.twitter.com/UsLCtSIguX
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) May 25, 2024
The representative has emerged as a key defender of the former president and was quick to endorse him in the Republican primary over DeSantis. Donalds has also risen quickly in the House of Representatives.
