Trump pledged to win over Black and Latino voters, but many Republicans are still waiting to see how he will accomplish this.

In a recent statement, former President Donald Trump expressed his desire to hold a major campaign event at New York's iconic Madison Square Garden. The event would feature Black hip-hop artists and athletes, and Trump's team is also considering similar events in cities like Chicago, Detroit, and Atlanta. The goal: to realign American politics by attracting Democratic voters to the Republican party.

However, with just five months left until the general election, Trump's campaign appears to have little organization in place to support these ambitious plans. In fact, the campaign removed its point person for coalitions and has not yet announced a replacement. The Republican Party's minority outreach offices have been replaced by businesses like a check-cashing store, an ice cream shop, and a sex-toy store. And while campaign officials admit that they are still weeks away from rolling out any targeted programs, they remain confident in their strategy.

But navigating the transition into the general election has proven to be a challenge for the former president. He has faced staffing issues, personal legal troubles, and criticism for his "Make America Great Again" movement's rejection of "identity politics." This has caused frustration among Republicans on the ground, who see an opportunity for Trump to make gains with voters of color.

Darrell Scott, a Black pastor who served as a senior adviser on both of Trump's presidential campaigns, acknowledges that the Republican Party lacks a cohesive engagement plan for Black communities. Instead, he says, there are individual conservatives in these communities who have taken it upon themselves to lead their own initiatives.

In Michigan, a crucial swing state, the Republican National Committee has yet to establish any community centers for minority outreach. While office spaces have been offered up by community members, there have been issues with staffing. Vance Patrick, the chair of the Oakland County GOP, explains that they have everything in place but are still waiting on the necessary staff.

Effective political organizing is a key aspect of any successful presidential campaign, with a significant investment of resources going towards identifying potential supporters and ensuring they vote. This is especially important in this year's election, as polls show that few voters are excited about the Biden-Trump rematch. Trump's campaign hired a national coalitions director last October, but he left in March without explanation. The campaign's political director, James Blair, assures that they have enough resources to secure the support of Black and Hispanic voters.

Lynne Patton, a senior adviser on the campaign overseeing coalitions work, says that they are laying the groundwork for a robust minority outreach program, largely in private. She mentions that they have been speaking with Black leaders, small business owners, famous athletes, and even hip-hop artists who have expressed interest in supporting Trump publicly and privately.

Polls show that a significant portion of Black and Hispanic adults are dissatisfied with Biden, with his approval ratings dropping among these groups since he took office. The Trump campaign believes that this frustration, coupled with issues like crime, inflation, and immigration, may convince some voters of color to support Trump, despite his divisive rhetoric and past record.

In response to Biden's efforts to target Black and Latino voters through ads and office openings in minority neighborhoods, Patton says that the Trump campaign is rolling out the "largest, most comprehensive, and strategic coalitions effort" in the history of the Republican Party. However, Jasmine Harris, the Biden campaign's director of Black media, believes that Trump's team's lack of strategy for reaching Black voters is not surprising, given his history with the community.

Republican strategist Alice Stewart is confident that the Trump campaign will ultimately do what is necessary to reach out to minority voters. However, she emphasizes that action is needed, not just talk. With the election just a few months away, the pressure is on for Trump's team to develop and implement an effective strategy for engaging with voters of color.

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