Donald Trump blasted CNN political commentator Van Jones on Sunday for praising Vice President Kamala Harris, saying Jones never thanked him for his help with criminal justice reform.
“Lightweight Political commentator Van Jones begged me, while in the Oval Office and with tears flowing from his eyes, to help get Criminal Justice Reform approved by the United States Senate,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social site. “I got it done, with Conservative help, and this lowlife, Jones, never once called to thank me, or the others that helped, for what we had done.”
“Along with Opportunity Zones, the long term funding of HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, and much more, I’ve done more for our black population than anyone other than, perhaps, Abraham Lincoln!!! Sorry, but that’s the way it is!!!” he concluded.
Jones has long been an advocate for criminal justice reform. In 2018, he lobbied Trump White House officials and members of Congress to pass the First Step Act.
The law allows for thousands of federal inmates to leave prison earlier than they otherwise would have, ease some mandatory minimum sentences and will give judges more leeway in sentencing, among other things, according to CNN.
Jones has repeatedly praise Trump and Republicans for their support of criminal justice reform, including at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in 2019.
He was criticized for his appearance at the event and called a ‘sell-out’.
Trump’s criticism of Jones comes after he praised Harris’ economic agenda for tackling price gouging.
“Thank goodness we’re finally hearing from a Democrat aggressively on price gouging,” Jones said during an appearance on CNN Friday. “Democrats have no problem dragging in technology CEOs, grilling them, you know, going after them … but most Americans don’t have a problem with technology CEOs. It’s these grocery stores ripping people off, the big grocers.”
