Kwame Kilpatrick, the former Detroit Democratic Mayor and former Obama supporter, broke ranks on Saturday and endorsed President Donald Trump.
In 2013, Kilpatrick was sentenced to 28 years in prison for public corruption, the longest sentence ever handed down to a public official.
Former president Barack Obama previously endorsed Kilpatrick and was even mentioned as a possible candidate for president.
Kilpatrick was dubbed Detroit’s “hip hop mayor” during his time in office.
It was reported that Kilpatrick was allegedly running a criminal enterprise and stealing millions of dollars from his city, including tax crimes, racketeering, bribery, and extortion.
However, President Trump commuted Kwame Kilpatrick’s prison sentence before he left office in
January 2021.
“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 order signed and dated Jan. 13 2021.
Kilpatrick has served seven years of his 28-year sentence.
Kilpatrick endorsed Trump for president in the upcoming 2024 election.
“I can never thank President Trump enough for what he’s done for me and my family by giving me freedom,” the former Mayor said.
“But I believe this election and the issues involved are personal to every family and every person in America.”
BREAKING: After Trump's Detroit visit, Kwame Kilpatrick, the former Democrat Mayor of Detroit, Michigan has endorsed Trump for President
— George (@BehizyTweets) June 15, 2024
“I can never thank President Trump enough for what he's done for me and my family by giving me freedom," Kilpatrick said. "But I believe this… pic.twitter.com/LhOkvsyCf4
KDHNews reported:
Trump spoke Saturday afternoon at 180 Church on Stansbury Avenue on Detroit’s west side. The event was designed to try to help Trump cut into Biden’s base of support among Black voters in Detroit, the nation’s largest Black American majority city.
“He’s been the worst president for Black people,” Trump said of Biden.
During the event, Lorenzo Sewell, pastor of 180 Church, asked Trump how to keep the “Black dollar in the Black community” in order to foster entrepreneurship within the community.
The businessman-turned-politician said crime needs to be curbed in Detroit.
“If they stop the crime, they’re going to see more and more stores sprout,” Trump said.
Watch
The Detroit News reported:
Trump’s visit to 180 Church in Detroit was preceded by his campaign’s announcement of an endorsement of Trump by former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick as well as the formation of a Black Americans for Trump coalition.
Kilpatrick, whose sentence was commuted by Trump before he left office in January 2021, was listed among Trump’s endorsements and was briefly quoted in the announcement as a former mayor and state representative.
“I can never thank President Trump enough for what he’s done for me and my family by giving me freedom,” Kilpatrick said.
“But I believe this election and the issues involved are personal to every family and every person in America.”
Kwame was pardoned in 2021.
READ: MSNBC: ‘The Real Problem’ for 2024 Election is Trump Supporters
