Gary Franks: It’s Trump being Trump, but that is not always good

President Donald Trump was rather adamant about his lack of artistic skills. Remember, he claimed that the salacious drawing and remarks appearing in a happy 50th birthday letter to the infamous sex-child predator and trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was not done or signed by him.

Yet today we have more artwork that Trump did release that with AI assistance

depicted House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a sombrero with Jeffries sporting a handle-bar mustache. The picture also showed a white person in the frame, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who was not defaced. Thus, it would clearly appear to be a slur against Hispanics and Black people at the same time. At the very least, it was extremely disrespectful to the person and the position that Jeffries holds in our government.

I would truly hope that the GOP members of Congress and those in Trump’s inner circle would get the president to apologize for his juvenile act.

Not long after the image was released, race seemed to remain on Trump’s mind. He mentioned that he cannot use two “n-words” but he said he would mention one of the n-words — “nuclear.” These remarks were delivered before the admirals and generals in our military. Your guess is as good as mine as to why the n-word discussion would be referenced.

I do not expect or want Black America to say or do anything. It is exactly what Trump wants. Division gives him strength. Our anger only fans the fire.

Black people have endured 400 years of slavery and 100 years of Jim Crow and are quite capable of enduring 40 more months of Trump.

Black people have long known who Trump is and has always been, and so do white people. His entire political ascent was off the back of former President Barack Obama. His political crutch today is his denigration of former President Joe Biden. After attacking his opponents personally, then he embraces division.

You learn quickly to listen but politely ignore him — our version of patronizing him. Patience is golden.

However, I am more concerned about the soul of America. If political leaders condone such hateful actions and say nothing, they are all complicit and thus we suffer the fate of those doing wrong. And if they say nothing and do nothing, Trump will continue to “poke the bear” until he is made to stop. For elected officials, this is not the time for them to think about their political future. They should instead think about the future we are leaving our children and grandchildren.

We get it. Trump may feel that Black people should have “Black jobs” — translation: jobs that service or entertain Black people and white people. Or, better yet, jobs that white people “cannot do” or “do not want to do.” You know, like HUD secretary, a unique entertainer or superstar athlete. Most importantly, a Black person should not be doing certain jobs or attending certain colleges because they are taking places “meant” for white people.

Trump practices these assumptions via his hiring and firing style. Earlier this year, he abruptly stopped the Defense Department and other agencies from even interviewing Black engineering candidates at a job fair that the government had been participating in for decades. Worse yet, the president coerced some companies to do the same. Only subjects of his political retribution would come close to earning Trump’s dislike more.

Sadly, for those folks, the America they want to bring back all too often evokes the ugly evil head of prejudice. They “pre-judged” people wrongfully because of qualities given to them by God that were different from theirs.

These small-minded folks are quick to pre-judge a Black person on whether that person got a position out of merit. In reality due to the constant adversity Black people must overcome, they are often over-qualified for their jobs. However, the irony is that many of Trump’s cabinet members’ qualifications pale in comparison to others who have held the same position. If analyzed, you would have to conclude that they received their position because the president merely selected them, and not on account of their merit or work experience but out of loyalty to him. For 40 more months, they have the microphone and can reach the masses. May God bless their hearts.

Americans believe that God made us all and the vast majority believe we should treat others in the way we would want to be treated. But when hate and unfairness against those God has created appears on one’s scorecard for admission to heaven, those folks would instead get a “speedpass” to hell to join its ruler — the creator of evil, hate, and destruction for an eternity. We all have choices, free will. Most God-fearing Americans of all religions do not want to unite with the latter, but if the shoe fits, it is meant for you.

Why display hostility to those who are not hostile toward you? John 9:34 says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Via the use of self-serving anecdotal stories, not real statistics, bad people can espouse dislike for being “asleep,” being “woke,” being “sad” or being for Project 19 or Project 28, and against “ABC,” “DXY,” or “SSS,” all of these are just terms “made up” by man and used by the people who want to help divide America into the camps of “us” vs. “them.”

A sinister move. Division is one of the tools used not by God but by the other force. As stated in the Bible, “divide and conquer” does work.

We are all Americans and God-fearing people. And if you cannot treat others like you would like to be treated, you would have made your own bed and will eventually have to sleep in it and never be “woke” again for eternity.

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Gary Franks served three terms as a congressman from Connecticut's 5th District. He was the first Black conservative elected to Congress and first Black Republican elected to the House in nearly 60 years. Host: Podcast "We Speak Frankly." garyfranksphilanthropy.org.