Trump's 2020 Election Lies Targeted Black Voters: Racism & Lawsuits

Former president's false claims and attacks on election integrity disproportionately impacted communities of color

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Donald Trump's failed attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election included spreading misinformation and making false accusations that targeted Black voters and election workers in key cities. This led to lawsuits, including a $146 million defamation judgment against Trump, and highlighted the ongoing threat of voter suppression and the need to protect the civil rights of all Americans.

Why it matters

Trump's rhetoric and actions represented a dangerous escalation in attempts to undermine public trust in democratic processes, particularly for communities of color. The deliberate targeting of election workers with false accusations can have devastating consequences for those falsely accused and erodes faith in the integrity of elections.

The details

Trump shared a now-deleted video on social media rehashing his election claims and depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. The NAACP argued that these actions, along with efforts to disenfranchise voters in cities like Detroit, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, 'repeat the worst abuses in our nation's history,' where Black Americans were historically denied a voice in American democracy. Rudy Giuliani's campaign against Georgia election workers Wandrea 'Shaye' Moss and Ruby Freeman relied on racist stereotypes, falsely accusing them of illicit activity while counting ballots.

  • In 2020, Trump made false claims about the integrity of the presidential election.
  • In 2021, the NAACP filed a lawsuit against Trump for violating the Ku Klux Klan Act.
  • In 2022, a jury initially awarded Moss and Freeman $148 million in a defamation lawsuit, later reduced to $146 million.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who made false claims about the 2020 presidential election and targeted Black voters and election workers.

NAACP

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a civil rights organization that filed a lawsuit against Trump for violating the Ku Klux Klan Act.

Wandrea 'Shaye' Moss

A Georgia election worker who was targeted by false and inflammatory accusations from Trump and his allies following the 2020 election.

Ruby Freeman

A Georgia election worker who was targeted by false and inflammatory accusations from Trump and his allies following the 2020 election.

Rudy Giuliani

Trump's personal lawyer who led the campaign against Moss and Freeman, relying on racist stereotypes.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The deliberate targeting of election workers with false and inflammatory accusations represents a dangerous escalation in attempts to undermine public trust in democratic processes and can have devastating consequences for those falsely accused. Similar tactics could be employed in future elections, potentially leading to further erosion of trust in democratic institutions.

The takeaway

Trump's rhetoric and actions during his attempt to overturn the 2020 election results highlight the ongoing threat of voter suppression and the need for vigilance in protecting the civil rights of all Americans, regardless of race or ethnicity.