clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

CNN’s Van Jones on Trump: “This was a white lash against a changing country”

Jones captured how many minority Americans feel tonight.

CNN’s Van Jones just explained how a lot of people, particularly minority Americans, are feeling tonight.

“People have talked about a miracle,” Jones said, referring to how many people are describing Donald Trump’s potential victory. “I’m hearing about a nightmare.”

Jones elaborated:

It’s hard to be a parent tonight for a lot of us. You tell your kids don’t be a bully. You tell your kids don’t be a bigot. You tell your kids do your homework and be prepared. And then you have this outcome. And you have people putting children to bed tonight, and they’re afraid of breakfast. They’re afraid of, how do I explain this to my children? I have Muslim friends who are texting me tonight, saying, “Should I leave the country?” I have families of immigrants that are terrified tonight.

This was many things. This was a rebellion against the elites, true. … But it was also about something else. … This was a white lash. This was a white lash against a changing country. It was a white lash against a black president in part. And that’s the part where the pain comes.

Jones called on Trump to assure people that he’s insulted throughout the campaign trail — particularly minority Americans — that he will, if he wins, be their president too.

But given the shock of Trump’s increasingly likely victory, it’s hard to imagine that will ease many people’s minds.

Sign up for the newsletter Today, Explained

Understand the world with a daily explainer plus the most compelling stories of the day.