Donald Trump owes his electoral victory to his campaign’s gains with Latino and Black voters. That being said, his second presidency (at least at the moment) is strikingly duplicative of his initial largely, overwhelmingly white profile of the Washington power establishment.

As of this writing, Trump has nominated just one Black American to his 16-member Cabinet: Scott Turner for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He has also selected two Latino nominees: Lori Chavez-DeRemer for Secretary of Labor and Marco Rubio for Secretary of State. To be fair, if confirmed, Scott Bessent, Trump’s treasury secretary pick, would be the first openly gay person in that position. Tulsi Gabbard would be the first Asian American director of national intelligence. And Susie Wiles is the first woman to be named as White House chief of staff.

The former and returning president has selected more Cabinet contenders alleged of sexual misconduct, aiding and abetting sexual abuse and other sorts of nefarious behavior than he has Black nominees — Matt Gaetz, who ultimately withdrew as the attorney general pick; Pete Hegseth, whose nomination as defense secretary is slugging along at best; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., anti-vaccine and nanny issues candidate and Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services; and Linda McMahon, the education secretary nominee who is being sued for allegedly enabling the sexual exploitation of children by an employee of WWE, where she was the longtime CEO.

Go figure.

Throughout this year’s presidential campaign, several Black Republicans, among them Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, and Ben Carson, who previously served as Housing and Urban Development secretary during Trump’s first term, stumped for Trump. Given the fact these men had such notable media visibility associated with the campaign, the question being asked by many is why aren’t either of these men or more Black people being considered for high profile positions in the administration?

In an ABC News interview, someone identified only as a “Black Southern Republican” asked, “Why is every Black person given HUD?” which they called “the literal Black job of the administration.”

No cabinet position in history has had more Black secretaries than HUD, and it’s looking like, for the second time, that will be the only cabinet position offered to a Black person by Trump.

Beatrice Pearson, in a column written for ABC News, quotes a GOP official responding to such charges: “The Republican Party has never really fallen into the category of ‘representation matters.’ Our strength comes from diversity, but that is not our bumper sticker slogan. We’re not going to nominate Black folks for the sake of nominating Black people.”

This same individual noted that Black Republicans have made strides in leadership across the country. Sen. Tim Scott will chair the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Donalds is speculated as possibly running for governor or U.S. Senate in Florida, and Winsome Sears is seeking to become the first Black female governor in the country in Virginia.

Notably, a couple of weeks after the election speaking on various news programs, Donalds downplayed the dearth of Black people chosen by Trump for his Cabinet. “What Donald Trump’s election is about is bringing competency and reality back to D.C. in the White House, making sure that the job gets done on behalf of the American people regardless of their race, regardless of their religion, regardless of their creed.”

Assuming Donalds is naïve or gullible enough to believe such a thing, this fact fails to address why Trump is under the assumption that only one Black person is suitable to be a member of his presidential cabinet. This is a question that Black Republicans and conservatives should be asking themselves.

For a party that claims discussions about racism are anti-American, Republicans love to promote Black politicians when it is beneficial to their agenda. The party treats Black Republicans like an ice cream shop or bakery promotes a flavor or dessert of the week. It shares its special China it showcases to guests for specific or special occasions. After the event has concluded, the China is promptly restored to its original location where it remains until it is desired or needed again.

Watching and observing House members during congressional proceedings, one can definitely notice the racial and gender diversity that personified the Democratic members of the house. Meanwhile, the Republican side of the House represented the racial demographics of your typical Louisiana country club. Even former Republican house speaker Kevin McCarthy has echoed the current republican party similar sentiments

Black Republicans have been relegated to a familiar status. Republicans don’t mind showcasing them at rallies and conventions in an attempt to prove their inclusiveness — or rather, the colorblindness of their party — during a presidential campaign. But once the election ends, Black Republicans are largely left staring at their phones waiting for a call that’s probably never going to come.

Perhaps, most Black conservatives do not need to answer themselves such a question. They all too likely already know the answer.

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Copyright 2024 Elwood Watson, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate

Elwood Watson is a professor of history, Black studies, and gender and sexuality studies at East Tennessee State University. He is also an author and public speaker.