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White House Deputy Assistant From Cleveland Lays Out Trump's Pitch To Black Voters

Ja'Ron Smith, deputy assistant to the president, speaking at the RNC.
RNC
Ja'Ron Smith, deputy assistant to the president, speaking at the RNC.

During the final night of the Republican National Convention, President Donald Trump's deputy assistant Ja'Ron Smith told the national audience that his Cleveland roots are part of his value system and that Trump has been fighting hard for the issues that matter to Black people.

Ja'Ron Smith works on urban affairs and revitalization issues at the White House. During the Republican National Convention he laid out a case for why black voters should support Trump.

"Every issue important to Black communities has been a priority to him, prison reform, rebuilding broken families, bringing jobs back to America," says Smith.

Smith, who grew up in Cleveland before attending Howard University, said his parents had strong values and helped him take education seriously.

On issues of racial justice and police reform, Smith said Trump believes communities need police departments with the highest standards.

"I'll never forget Strandhill Road, or the people of Cleveland. They're tough, smart, and tell it like it is. That's President Trump. For a New Yorker, he's got a lot of Cleveland heart," says Smith.

Democrats have accused Trump of creating divisions that end up stocking racial tensions.

Copyright 2021 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.

Andy Chow is a general assignment state government reporter who focuses on environmental, energy, agriculture, and education-related issues. He started his journalism career as an associate producer with ABC 6/FOX 28 in Columbus before becoming a producer with WBNS 10TV.