In the wake of Kamala Harris’ failed bid for president, Charlamagne Tha God called for unity and highlighted voters’ economic frustrations and security concerns as instrumental in Donald Trump’s victory.
“I know it looks like the states of America that have been divided over the last few years, but it’s still the United States of America,” said the influential radio host who supported Harris. “We have to unify somehow.”
Charlamagne (born Lenard McKelvey) co-hosts the popular iHeart Radio show “The Breakfast Club,” which is heard by millions of listeners each month, and is the author of the new book “Be Honest or Die Lying.”
Harris joined Charlamagne for an audio town hall in October, during which she outlined how her economic plan would boost black communities and cast Donald Trump’s presidency in dark terms.
Jonathan Karl speaks with influential radio host Charlamagne tha God on “This Week.”
ABC News
In an interview with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl on “This Week,” Charlamagne said he was “optimistic” about America, regardless of Harris’ loss.
“I believe in the future of this country because I have no choice but to do so,” he said.
Following President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race and support Harris in August, Charlamagne applauded the vice president’s candidacy for energizing the Democratic Party.
Charlamagne said there was “no life at all” with the Biden campaign and previously asked him not to run for office.
“The vice president has made a lot of people sit on the couch and pay attention and at least be curious,” he said. “She has no shame, she had a great campaign”
In a dramatic demographic shift from 2020, Trump won one in three voters of color, winning notably among Black and Latino voters. Charlamagne attributed part of this change to “a backlash against racial, gender and identity politics.”
Trump improved on his 2016 and 2020 numbers in traditional Democratic strongholds, like New Jersey and New Mexico. Charlamagne said “table issues” were a priority for voters.
“Every day people wake up and all they want is to have more money in their pocket and to feel safe,” he said. “I don’t care if you’re black, white, gay, straight, whatever your religion is, those are the two things you think about every day.”
He also said Democrats “don’t know how to get across” their position on immigration, including the bipartisan border bill that Trump and his allies effectively killed.
“It’s not like Democrats don’t want border security. They just don’t know how to deliver the message properly,” Charlamagne said. “‘Build the wall’ may seem basic, but you know what that means to people? Border security.”
Asked if Harris should have done more to separate herself from Biden, Charlamagne said, “I think if she wanted to go in a different direction, she should have expressed that.”
He also pointed to Harris’ appearances on “The View” and her interview with Fox’s Brett Baier, where she gave mixed answers about how she would be a different leader than the current president.
Even as a vocal critic of Trump, Charlamagne said he chooses to take a positive outlook on the next four years.
“We just have to hope for the best,” Charlamagne said. “I don’t want America to fail. Why would I want that?”
