Tim Scott responds to Obama’s remarks on race.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), a 2024 presidential candidate, firmly rejected former President Barack Obama‘s critique of his view on race relations.

Obama, the first black American to be elected president, expressed his skepticism towards GOP candidates who fail to address the consequences of centuries of racism during a recent CNN podcast.

Scott, the Senate’s only black Republican member, and Nikki Haley, a GOP presidential candidate of Indian heritage, were specifically targeted by Obama. He argued that there is a “history” of Republican candidates who overlook the United States’ past and “validate” it without proper acknowledgment.

“Fox News Sunday” host Shannon Bream, in an interview with Scott, brought up the senator’s personal experiences of being racially profiled, including incidents involving law enforcement inside the U.S. Capitol. Bream asked if these experiences support Obama’s claim that racism remains prevalent, even for successful minorities in the country today.

“Absolutely not,” Scott firmly responded. He added, “Whenever the Democrats feel threatened, they bring out the former president to make negative comments about someone running, hoping to diminish their support.”

2024 GOP candidate Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) reacts to Obama’s comments on him and race:

“There’s no higher compliment to be attacked by President Obama… The truth of my life disproves the lies of the radical left.” pic.twitter.com/o5b9mN7yxI

— The Recount (@therecount) June 18, 2023

Scott argued that the “truth” of his life “disproves the lies of the radical Left.”

He emphasized his focus on fighting poverty, highlighting his work on “Opportunity Zones”, an initiative aimed at attracting investments to low-income areas across the country. Scott proudly stated that this effort has brought over $50 billion to “the poorest, hardest-hit communities in this country, with the majority of them being minority communities.”

Scott also addressed the issue of funding Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), criticizing Obama for missing the mark during his administration. He boasted about increasing funding for HBCUs and making it “permanent” through a bill signed by former President Donald Trump in 2019.

Another important point raised by Scott was school choice. He argued that the radical Left and teachers unions hinder quality education in big blue cities, while he supports school choice as a common-sense solution.

“The radical Left and President Obama: They have failed, they have failed, and they have failed,” Scott asserted.

Looking ahead, Scott promised that if elected president, his administration would ensure quality education in every zip code. He also pledged to work on “Opportunity Zones 2.0” to bring more resources, opportunities, and jobs to the most disadvantaged areas, whether rural or urban.

“There is a way for us to alleviate poverty, not based on race, but on the facts themselves,” Scott added. “That’s what America stands for. If anyone should be proclaiming that America is not a racist country, it should be the man that Americans supported twice for the nomination and presidency.”

In conclusion, Scott stated, “The evolution of America is palpable. Progress in this nation is undeniable.”