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BET Founder Says African-Americans Should Give Trump a Shot

Bob Johnson met with the president-elect over the weekend

President-elect Donald Trump greets Robert Johnson, right, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, and his wife Lauren Wooden as they arrive Sunday for a meeting at Trump International Golf Club. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
President-elect Donald Trump greets Robert Johnson, right, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, and his wife Lauren Wooden as they arrive Sunday for a meeting at Trump International Golf Club. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Bob Johnson, founder of BET, asked African-Americans on Monday to give President-elect Donald Trump a chance, citing the real estate developer’s business experience.

In an interview with CNBC, Johnson, an avowed Democrat, professed to knowing Trump for years. The former Hillary Clinton supporter seemed confident that African-Americans could find common ground with the incoming Trump administration, especially where the economy is concerned.

“President-elect Trump is a business guy and I think he is going to tilt toward finding a way to use fiscal policy and his own knowledge as a business guy to move the economy forward for jobs and economic growth,” Johnson said.

Johnson met with Trump in New Jersey over the weekend to discuss how he might reach out to African-Americans feeling uneasy about his victory. Paraphrasing a quote from former Missouri congressman and founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, William L. Clay Sr., Johnson advocated for working across party lines.

“Black Americans should have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies,” he said, “Just permanent interests.”

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