Kwame Kilpatrick, the former Democratic Mayor of Detroit and past Obama supporter, broke ranks on Saturday to endorse President Donald Trump for the 2024 election.
Kilpatrick, who was sentenced in 2013 to 28 years in prison for public corruption, holds the record for the longest sentence ever handed down to a public official. His crimes included tax fraud, racketeering, bribery, and extortion, which painted a stark picture of his tenure as Detroit’s “hip hop mayor.”
Despite his past, Kilpatrick’s endorsement comes after President Trump commuted his prison sentence in January 2021. Trump’s decision to commute Kilpatrick’s sentence, which allowed him to be released after serving only seven years, was a significant move. “It has been made to appear that the ends of justice do not require Kwame Malik Kilpatrick to remain confined until his currently projected release date of Jan. 18, 2037, and the safety of the community will not be compromised if he is released,” Trump stated in the commutation order.
Expressing his gratitude, Kilpatrick said, “I can never thank President Trump enough for what he’s done for me and my family by giving me freedom.” His endorsement of Trump highlights the personal impact of Trump’s actions, which Kilpatrick believes resonate with every American family facing the nation’s current issues.
Trump spoke at 180 Church on Stansbury Avenue in Detroit, aiming to sway Black voters in the city, which has the largest Black American majority in the nation. He criticized President Biden, stating, “He’s been the worst president for Black people.” Addressing a question from Pastor Lorenzo Sewell about fostering entrepreneurship within the Black community, Trump emphasized the need to curb crime in Detroit, suggesting that reduced crime would lead to economic growth and more businesses.
During the event, Trump’s campaign announced the formation of a Black Americans for Trump coalition and highlighted Kilpatrick’s endorsement. The former mayor was quoted expressing his deep appreciation for Trump’s commutation of his sentence and stressing the personal stakes of the upcoming election for all Americans.
Kilpatrick’s shift from a Democratic stronghold to supporting Trump marks a significant political move, reflecting broader discontent with current leadership and highlighting the appeal of Trump’s policies among diverse voter groups.
