Ex-NFL player Jack Brewer who called Trump the 'first black president' doubles down after fierce criticism
Retired NFL legend Jack Brewer sparked outrage after hailing Donald Trump as the "first black president" of the United States.
Brewer made the controversial statement on Thursday, February 27 when he and other African-American Trump supporters met with the commander-in-chief for a roundtable discussion, Fox News reports.
“I’ve got to say this because it’s Black History Month. Man, you’re the first black president,” Brewer told Trump, drawing cheers and applause from the rest of the room. The attendees cheered before they gathered around the president and prayed with him.
Brewer immediately faced major backlash on social media for his comments, but instead of conceding, he doubled down on his claims.
“Being ‘African American’ is determined by your lineage... Being ‘Black’ is determined by your willingness to serve and defend BLACK PEOPLE!!” he wrote on Twitter in response to the criticism.
The former NFL baller praised Trump during the event for a series of achievements since his election, including his efforts towards criminal justice reform.
“I’ve been a Democrat all my life but I’m not a Democrat now,” the former Vikings player-turned-ordained minister said. “You’ve changed me. You touched me. And you made my work go to another level. You inspire me. And every time I go into those prisons and I ask my guys how many of them had their sentences reduced and they raise their hands, I know I’m doing God’s work and I thank you for that."
As expected, Trump critics on Twitter blasted the minister over his statements.
“What Jack Brewer says about Trump being the first black president was so disrespectful. So unpatriotic. While #maga & 45 still get mad at a knee on the ground during a song, this guy disrespects the 1st blk Potus & Trump grins like an idiot. Ur ancestors are rolling in their graves,” one user wrote.
“I threw up in my mouth when I read this cuz he didn’t just insult President Obama, he also tried to minimize the relationship President Clinton had with African Americans. What a joke! I want to talk to Jack Brewer!,” another added.