Today, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement:

"Tonight, President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address, claiming that our country is 'bigger, better, richer, and stronger than ever.' But for Black Americans, the reality behind these blatantly racist lies, disrespect, and outright distortions tells a very different story.

"Seventy-five percent of Black Americans disapprove of the President's overall job performance, and only 23 percent approve of the way he has handled the economy. These are not just numbers - they represent families struggling with higher costs, lost jobs, and deepening economic insecurity under this Administration's failed leadership and anti-Black policies.

"Under Donald Trump's historically unpopular leadership, Black unemployment reached a staggering 8.3% - the highest level since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This rise in unemployment is due in no small part to his vindictive efforts to whitewash the federal government. With one in five federal workers being Black, these efforts have disproportionately hurt families who have historically relied on public service as a pathway to the middle class. At the same time, his reckless tariffs have increased the cost of groceries, utilities, and other essentials, hitting Black households - who spend a higher percentage of their budgets on necessities - the hardest.

"On healthcare, Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans passed the largest cuts to Medicare and Medicaid in American history, and their assault on the Affordable Care Act has put more than 1.1 million Black Americans at risk of losing coverage - worsening longstanding health disparities in our community.

"Donald Trump and Republicans know they have failed the American people, which is why they are working to weaken the Voting Rights Act and advance voter suppression legislation like the SAVE Act to desperately cling to power. They know that, because of their failed policies, their only path to maintaining congressional majorities depends on weakening the collective voting strength of Black communities through racially gerrymandered maps ahead of the midterm elections. They are now relying on the Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais to clear the path for their plan to cement one-party control in Washington.

"The Congressional Black Caucus will continue to hold the line against the Administration's committed efforts to decimate our economy and undermine the American dream. As the conscience of the Congress, we will fight to protect voting rights, safeguard healthcare, lower costs for working families, and build an economy that works for Black communities - not just the wealthy and well-connected."