DETROIT, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In prison jargon, a “fresh fish” refers to a newcomer to the prison environment, often perceived as vulnerable or inexperienced. This label might soon apply to former President Donald J. Trump, recently convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection to his “hush money” case, and awaiting sentencing scheduled for July 11th.

Because of his legal troubles and the dislike for the 45th president of the United States, Democrats and Trump critics have called him a felon, convict and a criminal. However, that didn’t stop Democrat Kwame Kilpatrick, the former mayor of Detroit, from endorsing Trump to be the 47th president of the United States.

Kilpatrick’s freedom after Trump pardon.

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Trump’s presidential campaign announced Kilpatrick’s endorsement on June 15th, right before Trump showed up at a Blacks For Trump rally at the 180 Church. Locked up for public corruption, Kilpatrick got an early release thanks to a Trump pardon in 2021. The pardon had Kilpatrick serving only eight years of his 28-year-sentence for a racketeering conspiracy.

The former mayor has been spotted at Trump rallies since that time, the most recent being in Saginaw County, Michigan, in March 2024.

Kilpatrick told the Detroit News, “I can never thank President Trump enough for what he’s done for me and my family by giving me freedom. But I believe this election and the issues involved are personal to every family and every person in America.”

Political impact and public reaction.

Social media users quickly dubbed the Kilpatrick and Trump’s collaboration as “The Criminal Coalition” with social media user @bartgirl24 saying, “The real people of Detroit have nothing but hate and disdain for Kwame Kilpatrick. He stole millions from the city and will never be forgiven.”

Even with his endorsement of Trump, Kilpatrick is playing coy about who he’ll vote for in November. But he made it clear it won’t be Joe Biden.

The Democratic Party is currently scrambling to counteract the inroads they are seeing being made in support of Trump. Trump’s efforts to appeal to Black voters coincide with polls indicating increased openness among Black men to support the Republican nominee in this year’s election compared to historical trends.

Black voter dynamics and electoral strategy.

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According to a recent survey by The New York Times/Siena College in battleground states, Trump is garnering over 20% support from Black voters in a head-to-head matchup with Biden, potentially marking a record high if this support materializes in November. In the 2020 election, Trump received approximately 10% of the national Black vote, as estimated by various sources.

Despite expectations that President Joe Biden will overwhelmingly win Black voters this November, even a slight shift in support towards Trump could influence outcomes in critical battleground states such as Georgia, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Including the selection of one of Trump’s three Black candidates as his Vice President could bolster his support even more and potentially secure a decisive victory.