Former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke stated on Tuesday that Donald Trump is the "only" individual who "cares about black American citizens." Clarke's comments follow reports of Trump's remarks regarding "shithole countries" during an Oval Office meeting.

Clarke's Statements on Trump and Black Americans

David Clarke, a former sheriff described as a controversial figure and an outspoken black supporter of the president, made his assertion on Tuesday. He tweeted, "If @SenatorDurbin truly cared about black people he wouldn't sit by twiddling his thumbs as black people in his city of Chicago are slaughtered by violent crime in record numbers." Clarke continued, asking, "Do those black lives matter Dick? Only @realDonaldTrump cares about black AMERICAN citizens."

Clarke's comments were made as the White House addressed the aftermath of reports that Trump referred to several African nations as "shithole countries" during a bipartisan immigration meeting held on Thursday in the Oval Office. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, who attended the meeting, confirmed the claim, which was initially reported by the Washington Post. Durbin's confirmation drew Clarke's criticism.

Senator Durbin was not the only lawmaker present at the meeting to confirm Trump's comment. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina reportedly told his fellow Republican senator from the same state, Tim Scott, that the quote was "basically accurate," according to The Post and Courier of Charleston. Republican Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia, who were also at the meeting, issued a joint statement.

Background on David Clarke

David Alexander Clarke Jr. was born on August 21, 1956, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served as the Sheriff of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, from March 19, 2002, to August 31, 2017. Clarke was appointed to the position in 2002 by Republican Governor Scott McCallum and subsequently elected to his first four-year term that same year. He was reelected in November 2006, 2010, and 2014.

Although Clarke declared himself a Democrat after his appointment as sheriff and ran as a Democrat in a county that is heavily Democratic, many of his political views align with those of conservative Republicans. He declined to join the Wisconsin Democratic Party, instead promoting conservative views and allying himself with Republican officials. During his tenure as sheriff, Clarke frequently had disagreements with other Milwaukee County officials regarding the budget and other issues. He also faced scrutiny concerning deaths and alleged mistreatment of jail inmates, including one instance where a man died of thirst, which a coroner ruled a homicide, and cases where pregnant women were handcuffed and shackled during labor.

Clarke frequently appeared as a guest on Fox News through February 2018. He has been a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, previously calling Black Lives Matter activists the "enemy." In October 2016, Clarke tweeted, "It's 'pitchforks and torches time'," accusing the government and media of corruption. This tweet included a photoshopped image of a crowd carrying burning sticks and pitchforks. In January 2018, Clarke was temporarily suspended from Twitter after tweeting statements about the "lying lib media," including one that read, "Punch them in the nose & MAKE THEM TASTE THEIR OWN BLOOD." This tweet was in response to stories about a search warrant request for Clarke’s emails, which was part of a past investigation into alleged harassment of an airline passenger.

Key Facts

  • David Clarke stated that Donald Trump is the "only" person who "cares about black American citizens."
  • Clarke's comments were made on Tuesday, following reports of Trump's "shithole countries" remarks.
  • Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois confirmed Trump's "shithole countries" comment.
  • David Clarke served as Sheriff of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, from 2002 to 2017.
  • Clarke, a self-declared Democrat, aligns with conservative Republican views and is a prominent Trump supporter.
  • Clarke has faced scrutiny for issues during his time as sheriff, including inmate deaths and alleged mistreatment.