And President Trump is facing criticism after he appeared to suggest that the great abolitionist and writer Frederick Douglass, who was born into slavery around 1818 and died in 1895, is still, in fact, alive. This is Donald Trump, speaking at a Black History Month event on Wednesday.
President Donald Trump: “I am very proud now that we have a museum on the National Mall where people can learn about Reverend King, so many other things. Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who’s done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more, I notice.”
That’s President Trump speaking about Frederick Douglass, one of the most revered abolitionists in U.S. history. Later on Wednesday, reporters asked White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer about Trump’s comments. This is Sean Spicer.
Reporter: “About Frederick Douglass being recognized more and more, do you have any idea what specifically he was referring to?”
Press Secretary Sean Spicer: “Well, I think there’s contributions—I think he wants to highlight the contributions that he has made. And I think, through a lot of the actions and statements that he’s going to make, I think the contributions of Frederick Douglass will become more and more.”