Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.) declined an invite from Omarosa Manigault to have another meeting with President Trump. (Larry French/Getty Images for SiriusXM/AP Photo/Richard Drew)
After receiving an invitation from “the Honorable” Omarosa Manigault, the Congressional Black Caucus voted to decline a second meeting with President Donald Trump, saying their concerns “fell on deaf ears” the first time.
“Through an objective assessment, we have seen no evidence that your Administration acted on our calls for action, and we have in fact witnessed steps that will affirmatively hurt Black communities,” CBC Chairman Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.) wrote. “While we agreed to explore possible future discussions when we first met, it has become abundantly clear that a conversation with the entire CBC would not be entirely productive, given the actions taken by your Administration since our first meeting.”
Rumblings of the probable rejection of a follow-up to the CBC’s March meeting with Trump became apparent Wednesday, June 21, when a senior Democratic aide told Politico, “No one wants to be a co-star on the reality show.”
The political journalism company reported members were concerned another gathering would result in another photo-op that would attempt to prove Trump’s standing among the Black community. In March, the 49-member group presented the Commander-in-Chief a 130-page policy document that they say has yet to be addressed.
“Based on the actions taken by you and your Administration since that meeting,” the CBC letter read, “It appears that our concerns, and your stated receptiveness to them, fell on deaf ears.”
The organization also has sent eight documents since January that also have not been addressed, including one from April “regarding your efforts to sabotage our nation’s health care system.”
The CBC voted today to decline this @WhiteHouse invitation for a follow-up meeting w/ @realDonaldTrump. Here's why: https://t.co/emjn81IDMK. pic.twitter.com/82Bn7ATW3i
— The Black Caucus (@TheBlackCaucus) June 21, 2017
Each member received an invitation from Manigault, Trump’s director of communications, Friday, June 9, that she signed using the title, “The Honorable,” which drew some criticism.
.@OMAROSA Remember this tweet? Before you became ‘honorable’ pic.twitter.com/kgwXrce014
— Liz M (@massiliz) June 21, 2017
When you get a letter signed "the Honorable Omarosa Manigault” pic.twitter.com/dJApWXYNQU
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) June 22, 2017
Only presidential appointees approved by Senate are addressed as Honorable. Were you approved by Senate?
— Rachel (@ShinyDead) June 21, 2017
No. Omarosa has no title that qualifies as "the Honorable." It's not only pretentious, it's stupid. https://t.co/xU0C3pACK6
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) June 21, 2017
Then, Maginult explained where the title came from.
https://twitter.com/OMAROSA/status/877548230069940224
