Trump Defends Himself Against 'Racist' Accusations

Press Secretary Leavitt Challenges CBS Reporter's Claim That Trump Has Never Been 'Falsely' Called Racist

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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President Donald Trump has been repeatedly accused of racism, but he maintains that these accusations are false. In a recent statement on Truth Social, Trump said he has been 'falsely and consistently called a racist' by 'the scoundrels and lunatics on the radical left.' When a CBS reporter challenged this claim, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back, saying she could provide 'a plethora of examples' of Democrats falsely accusing Trump of racism over the years.

Why it matters

The debate over whether Trump has been unfairly labeled as a racist is part of the larger political and cultural divide in the country. Trump's supporters argue that the 'racist' label has been weaponized against him, while his critics maintain that his words and actions have demonstrated a pattern of racial insensitivity and bias.

The details

In the exchange at the White House press briefing, CBS correspondent Ed O'Keefe asked Leavitt where or when Trump believes he has been 'falsely called racist.' Leavitt responded by saying she could provide numerous examples of 'radical Democrats' accusing Trump of racism, and that O'Keefe himself had previously called Trump a racist on social media. BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales also weighed in, arguing that Trump has a long history of being embraced by the Black community, including by civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, until Trump ran as a Republican.

  • On February 23, 2026, President Trump posted a tribute to the late Jesse Jackson on Truth Social.
  • During a White House press briefing on the same day, a CBS reporter challenged Trump's claim that he has been 'falsely and consistently called a racist.'

The players

President Donald Trump

The former president who has been repeatedly accused of racism, but maintains that these accusations are false.

Karoline Leavitt

The White House Press Secretary who defended Trump against the CBS reporter's challenge, saying she could provide numerous examples of Democrats falsely accusing Trump of racism.

Ed O'Keefe

A CBS correspondent who questioned Trump's claim that he has been 'falsely and consistently called a racist.'

Sara Gonzales

A BlazeTV host who argued that Trump has a long history of being embraced by the Black community, including by civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, until Trump ran as a Republican.

Jesse Jackson

A civil rights leader who thanked Trump for being 'inclusive' and creating a 'comfort zone' for the Black community, according to a decades-old video clip.

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What they’re saying

“Yesterday in his statement about Jesse Jackson, the president said, 'Despite the fact that I'm falsely and consistently called a racist by the scoundrels and lunatics on the radical left, Democrats all, it was always my pleasure to help Jesse along the way.'”

— Ed O'Keefe, CBS Correspondent (CBS)

“You're kidding, right? I will pull you a plethora of examples. I'm going to get my team in that room to start going through the internet of radical Democrats throughout the years, Ed, who have accused this president falsely of being a racist.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary (White House Press Briefing)

“I realize what Ed O'Keefe is trying to do here. He's trying to say, 'Well, he's never been falsely accused. We were always dead on the money with that.' And to that point, Ed O'Keefe himself called President Trump a racist.”

— Sara Gonzales, BlazeTV Host (BlazeTV)

“I don't think I'm going to be able to recover after all of those racist remarks. Hear that racist rhetoric? Oh my gosh. Helping the NAACP, helping Jesse Jackson. Boy, if President Trump is a racist, he's doing it very wrong.”

— Sara Gonzales, BlazeTV Host (BlazeTV)

What’s next

The debate over whether Trump has been unfairly labeled as a racist is likely to continue, with both sides presenting evidence to support their positions. The outcome of this debate could have significant political implications, particularly as Trump considers a potential 2024 presidential run.

The takeaway

This case highlights the deep partisan divide in the country over the issue of racism and the use of the 'racist' label in political discourse. While Trump's supporters argue that the label has been weaponized against him, his critics maintain that his words and actions have demonstrated a pattern of racial insensitivity and bias.