June 18th 2024.
Kwame Kilpatrick, the former mayor of Detroit known for his public corruption charges, made a surprising announcement on June 15th when he endorsed Donald Trump for president. The endorsement came from the Trump campaign, just before Kilpatrick appeared at a Blacks For Trump rally at the 180 Church. As the news of Kilpatrick's endorsement spread on social media, many were not shocked, considering his past support for the former president.
Kilpatrick became a household name after being sentenced to 28 years in prison for his involvement in public corruption. However, in 2021, Trump pardoned him after serving close to eight years behind bars. Kilpatrick has since expressed his gratitude towards Trump and even attended a Trump rally in Michigan in 2024. In an interview with the Detroit News, Kilpatrick shared, "I can never thank President Trump enough for what he's done for me and my family by giving me freedom. But I believe this election and the issues involved are personal to every family and every person in America."
Kilpatrick's support for the convicted GOP candidate was met with criticism on social media, with some labeling it as "The Criminal Coalition." Others pointed out that the people of Detroit still hold resentment towards Kilpatrick for the damage he caused to the city during his time as mayor. Despite the endorsement, Kilpatrick has yet to publicly state who he will be voting for in the upcoming election, but it won't be for President Joe Biden.
Kilpatrick, who served as a Democrat from 2002 to 2008, resigned amidst a corruption scandal within city hall that ultimately led to his conviction in federal court. This timeline has shown that Trump's campaign is willing to align with Democrats charged with corruption in order to gain support for his re-election. In May 2024, former Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was also a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice, made an appearance at Mar-A-Lago for a Republican National Committee event. Blagojevich was convicted of corruption but was released from prison after Trump commuted his sentence in 2020.
Trump's support for Democrats charged with corruption was also evident in his endorsement of Democratic Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, who was indicted, along with his wife, Imelda, on bribery charges in May 2024. Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to show his support for Cuellar, claiming that the allegations were tied to his opposition to the Biden administration's immigration policies. Cuellar has denied the charges, but Trump believes it is a tactic used by the opposition to discredit him.
In the end, Kilpatrick's endorsement of Trump may not come as a shock to many, but it raises questions about the former president's tactics in securing support for his re-election. As the election approaches, more unexpected alliances may come to light, but only time will tell the true motives behind them.
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