A Fox News contributor suggested that Black voters would back Donald Trump in the 2024 election because they “love sneakers.”
Raymond Arroyo made the remarks on The Big Weekend Show while discussing the $399 limited-edition shoes that Trump promoted at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia on Saturday.
The “Never Surrender High-Tops”—shiny gold high tops with an American flag detail on the back—have since sold out on a new website that also sells other Trump-branded shoes, cologne and perfume.
“This is connecting with Black America because they love sneakers,” Arroyo said.
“This a big deal, certainly in the inner city. So when you have Trump roll out his sneaker line, they’re like, ‘wait a minute, this is cool.’ He’s reaching them on a level that defies and is above politics. The culture always trumps politics. And Trump understands culture like no politician I’ve ever seen.”
Asked if people excited about the sneakers would vote for Trump, Arroyo said: “Anybody willing to put 400 bucks down for a pair of sneakers? Yeah, I think that’s commitment and love. It’s something… it’s affection.”
Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, is seeking to reclaim the White House while facing four criminal indictments. And he launched the gold sneakers a day after a judge added to his mounting legal debt by ordering him to pay $355 million in penalties, plus interest, finding he lied for years about his wealth on financial statements he used to secure loans and make deals.
Former President Donald Trump at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia on February 17. Trump unveiled his new high-tops, which feature a gold design, the American flag, and an embossed T.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The Trump-branded sneakers are described on the website as “a true collector’s item” with only 1,000 pairs made.
After selling out not long after Trump’s appearance at Sneaker Con, some are being listed on eBay for thousands of dollars. One man sparked an online backlash after paying $9,000 for an autographed pair of the sneakers.
“Bold, gold, and tough, just like President Trump. They’re for the go-getters who don’t know the word quit,” the description on the website says.
“The Never Surrender sneakers are your rally cry in shoe form. Lace-up and step out ready to conquer.” The website says the sneakers are estimated to ship in July.
The sneaker website says it is run by CIC Ventures LLC, a company that Trump reported owning in his 2023 financial disclosure, The Associated Press reported.
The website says the venture “is not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign.”
Correction 2/22/24, 12:02 p.m. ET: This article and headline was updated to clarify that Raymond Arroyo is a Fox News contributor, not a Fox News host.
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Source : Newsweek