Congressional Black Caucus declines Trump's invitation

The Congressional Black Caucus has declined an invitation for a follow-up meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, terming his administration's policies and proposals as detrimental to all black Americans and their constituencies.

In a letter addressed to the President, CBC Chairman Rep. Cedric Richmond wrote that "the CBC, and the millions of people we represent, has a lot to lose under your administration."

"I fail to see how a social gathering would benefit the policies we advocate for," he continued.

Inspite of repeatedly reminding about the problems both verbally and in writing but nothing has been heard from Trump or his cabinet and therefore the caucus' members have voted against a meeting with President Trump.

 

"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."

Omarosa Manigault, the director of communications in the White House Office of Public Liaison, had extended an invitation on behalf of the President for a follow-up meeting with all 49 members of the caucus "to continue the discussion of issues presented in their previous meeting."

CBC Chair Cedric Richmond that members presented Trump with 'a 130-page policy document" meant to educate the President that the number of "actions taken by his administration will affirmatively hurt Black communities."

Richmond's letter mentioned a number of actions taken by the Trump administration: from proposed cuts to Pell Grants and low income energy assistance to Attorney General Jeff Sessions' acceleration of the war on drugs, to Republicans' attempts at dismantling Obamacare and that he said would devastate both the constituencies of members of the CBC and Americans who voted for Trump.

Richmond wrote to Trump on Wednesday, "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."

"Based on actions taken by you and your administration since that meeting, it appears that our concerns, and your stated receptiveness to them, fell on deaf ears," the Louisiana Democrat wrote, CNN reported.