The Congressional Black Caucus on Wednesday rejected a meeting with President Donald Trump in a response letter to his assistant Omarosa Manigault.
Manigault sent a letter to the CBC requesting a second meeting with the president following their previous sit-down on March 22. However, all 49 members declined to engage in such a meeting, citing Trump’s inaction on key policy issues highlighted by members.
“Given the lack of response to any of the many concerns we have raised with you and your administration, we decline your invitation for all 49 members of the Congressional Black Caucus to meet with you,” CBC chairman Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.) wrote in the letter.
“I fail to see how a social gathering would benefit the policies we advocate for,” he added. “The CBC will always be willing to engage in discussion and debate about policies and programs that will make America a more perfect union for all.”
The CBC’s response comes days after Manigault, who also angered members by referring to herself as “The Honorable Omarosa Manigault,” sent a letter welcoming the caucus back to the White House. “As requested by the president, we would like to schedule a follow-up meeting with the entire membership of the Congressional Black Caucus to discuss issues pertinent to your members,” she wrote.
Chairman Richmond admonished Trump for ignoring a 130-page policy document the CBC had given him during the March meeting on Black history, CBC history and “solutions to advance black families in the 21st century.”
“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,” he wrote.
In particular, Richmond pointed out Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ apparent war on drugs, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos eliminating President Obama’s diversity program and the American Health Care Act’s projected negative impact on communities of color.
“We have voiced all of these concerns in various forms, but have heard nothing from you or your Cabinet officials,” Richmond wrote, listing eight letters and documents the caucus had sent the administration.