Trump’s Rhetoric on Black “Low IQ” Sparks Outrage

Washington, D.C. — 9 Sept 2025 — President Donald Trump is once again under fire for his derogatory comments about the intelligence of Black public figures. In an article culled from BlackNews.com, historian Legrand H. Clegg II denounces Trump’s repeated use of “low IQ” insults against African Americans, describing it as racist, absurd, and historically baseless.

Pattern of Insults

On August 3, Trump attacked radio host Charlemagne Tha God, branding him a “low IQ individual” after critical comments on Fox News. Journalist Brittany Wong observed that Trump tends to disparage people of color on the basis of intelligence. Examples abound: NBA legend LeBron James, CNN’s Don Lemon, Congresswomen Maxine Waters and Jasmine Crockett, and former Vice President Kamala Harris — his 2024 opponent — all faced similar jabs.

Historical Echoes of Racism

Clegg connects Trump’s rhetoric to the long history of portraying Black people as intellectually inferior, tracing back to slavery-era pseudo-science that dehumanized Africans. He warns that such insults perpetuate hopelessness among Black youth if left unchallenged.

Scholarly Rebuttals

Linguist Carrie Gillow stressed that Trump appears convinced that “Black people have lower IQs than whites” and that IQ alone defines intelligence. Yet, Clegg notes, science and history tell a different story: DNA evidence traces humanity’s origins to a Black woman in Africa, with early civilizations across the globe rooted in African migrations.

Legacy of Black Achievement

The article highlights historic Black contributions, from ancient Egypt to modern America. Examples include Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, founder of Chicago, and inventors like Dr. Henry T. Sampson (Gamma Electric Cell), Granville T. Woods (Induction Telegraph), and Dr. Patricia Bath (Laserphaco Probe).

Conclusion

For Clegg, Trump’s rhetoric is not only ironic — given what he calls “the most mediocre cabinet in American history” — but dangerously racist. “According to White scientists, Black people are the genetically dominant parents of the human family who laid down the foundation of global civilization,” he writes. The article, culled from BlackNews.com, calls for vigilance against the erasure of Black history under Trump’s watch.