The Republican National Committee has released a video highlighting its support for African-American voters, shortly after the party’s presidential front-runner refused to disavow the endorsement of former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke.
The RNC published the video Monday, on the last day of Black History Month, and just before the swath of GOP primaries on Super Tuesday. When asked if the release of the video was timed in response to Trump’s comments, RNC Communications Director for Black Media Orlando Watson said the video was about highlighting “their continued commitment to engaging communities of color.”
“The RNC is engaged in a 24/7, 365 day-a-year engagement effort to compete for black voters,” he said. “Released during Black History Month, the ‘We Are The GOP’ video highlights support for the RNC’s engagement efforts from black Republicans across the country as well as highlighted our continued commitment to engaging communities of color.”
The party’s front-runner Donald Trump on Sunday refused to distance himself from Duke during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.” Trump blamed the remarks on miscommunication on a “lousy earpiece,” and he later tweeted that he disavowed the support of Duke.
RNC communications director Sean Spicer played defense on the matter over Twitter.
“Are you kidding. Of course the @gop has and does denounce these hate groups/people,” he tweeted.