He made shocking remarks.
Megachurch Pastor Jamal Bryant criticized a group of Black supporters of President Donald Trump, referring to them as “runaway slaves” and “coons” after they mocked him during a recent Black History Month event at the White House. The video, shared on X and viewed millions of times, shows the supporters celebrating with a cardboard cutout of Bryant’s head while acknowledging FBI Director Kash Patel’s appointment. The footage went viral after being posted by conservative podcaster David Harris Jr. and shared by April Ryan, a journalist for The Grio.
In his Sunday sermon, Bryant responded to the mockery, condemning the actions of the group. He expressed anger over what he called their willingness to overlook systemic injustices by the Trump administration. Bryant pointed out issues such as the dismissal of the Black Joint Chiefs of Staff and criticized major corporations like Target, Walmart, and McDonald’s for failing to support Black businesses. He also criticized the state of Florida for banning Black literature and highlighted disparities in access to affordable insulin.
Bryant, known for his strong opposition to Trump and Republicans, made it clear that he would not be intimidated by their actions. He declared that his background, particularly being from West Baltimore, made him unafraid of their attempts to scare him. He likened the actions of Trump’s Black supporters to slaves who resisted freedom, accusing them of “tap dancing for their master” and failing to stand up for their community.
In a statement to WSB-TV 2, Bryant expressed surprise at being singled out at the White House event and reiterated his commitment to speaking out against any administration or corporation that undermines the progress made by marginalized communities. He emphasized the importance of holding the powerful accountable and resisting actions that threaten democracy.
Bryant has a history of vocal opposition to Trump, previously criticizing Black pastors for meeting with him and describing the gatherings as nothing more than photo ops. He also drew attention during the 2022 Georgia Senate race, where he criticized Black Republican candidate Herschel Walker, calling him a caricature of a broken Black man and accusing him of being controlled by white men throughout his life.