Did Black Lives Matter Endorse Trump? What We Know

Rhode Island-based Black Lives Matter (BLM) activist Mark Fisher's endorsement of former President Donald Trump is being celebrated by conservatives, but local organizations are distancing themselves from him.

Fisher's endorsement of the former president, who remains the front-runner in the Republican 2024 presidential primary, resurfaced following a new interview on Fox News this week, in which he said Trump has done "more for the Black community than any president I can think of in my lifetime."

"We've been used and abused for so long by [the Democratic Party]. They don't value our vote. Their policies are basically racist policies. I believe it's a racist party. Donald Trump is the opposite. He's going to tell you how it is. He's going to give it to you straight," he said.

BLM is a decentralized social movement focused on racism and other issues faced by Black Americans that has been more often associated with progressive politics, rather than the socially conservative policies embraced by Trump.

Fisher has touted his ties to the organization Black Lives Matter of Rhode Island, a registered nonprofit based out of Pawtucket that works on anti-discrimination causes.

A spokesperson for BLM Rhode Island told Newsweek Wednesday afternoon that Fisher is "no longer affiliated with BLM RI."

"His position with us was and is terminated," the group said.

Newsweek also reached out Wednesday to the national BLM organization for comment via email.

Conservatives have praised Fisher's endorsement amid polls suggesting President Joe Biden's support among Black voters has slipped since 2020, when they helped carry him to victory in crucial swing states.

"NEW: Black Lives Matter Rhode Island co-founder Mark Fisher is supporting Donald Trump for the 2024 election because Democrats are 'not for us.' Didn't see that one coming," conservative commentator Collin Rugg wrote in a post to X, formerly Twitter.

"Mark Fisher, co-founder of BLM Rhode Island, endorses Donald Trump. Democrats are confused on how to make this both a racist and a non-racist decision," posted Blaze TV host Chad Prather.

A separate Rhode Island-based organization, Black Lives Matter RI Pac, noted Fisher has not been affiliated with the group.

"In response to recent media coverage, we would like to clarify that Mark Fisher is not and has never been affiliated with our organization. The views expressed by Mr. Fisher in the referenced Fox News segment do not reflect the values or beliefs of BLM RI PAC," the organization wrote in an X post.

The statement continues: "We would like to emphasize that Mark Fisher claims association with Black Lives Matter Rhode Island, a non profit organization. Any statements or actions attributed to him should not be conflated with our organization. We are disappointed by the association between Mark Fisher and former President Trump, as expressed in the Fox News interview. BLM RI PAC remains focused on our mission to create positive change through advocacy, education, and community engagement."

Fisher previously said he is supporting Trump in 2024 because "everybody else sucks."

"You know, I like Trump personally and I think right now who we have sitting in the Oval Office is just a deep disappointment ... I deeply have disdain for him and I really dislike the vice president [Kamala Harris] as well," he said earlier this month.