The President Just Gave a Shout-Out to Blacks for Trump, the Group Tied to a Miami Cult Member

Jerry Iannelli November 8, 2019 5:03PM

Michael the Black Man at a Donald Trump rally in Miami in 2016. Photo by Jerry Iannelli

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Donald Trump's first campaign for president was already bizarre before the appearance of Maurice Woodside, AKA Michael Symonette, AKA Michael the Black Man. At an October 2016 rally, political Twitter exploded after a group of men in white T-shirts reading, "TRUMP & Republicans Are Not Racist!" stood behind Trump's podium at a rally and waved signs reading, "Blacks for Trump."

New Times, of course, immediately recognized the group leader: It was Michael the Black Man, the former Yahweh ben Yahweh cult member who was once tried for but acquitted of conspiring to kill people while he was in the cult. (Other members of the cult, including Yahweh ben Yahweh himself, were convicted of killing 14 people.)

Well, fast-forward three years, and Trump campaign officials still seem pretty darn pleased to lean on Michael for support. Today Trump spoke in Atlanta and launched a black-voter outreach campaign. Not only was Michael there with his crew, but also Trump seemingly urged the crowd to chant "Blacks for Trump!" during the rally:

"Blacks for Trump! Blacks for Trump! Blacks for Trump!"

Crowd breaks out in chant supporting @realDonaldTrump after he asks if they preferred "Blacks for Trump" or "African Americans for Trump" at the debut of "Black Voices for Trump," which is a new reelection coalition. pic.twitter.com/KUH8jy4LiI
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 8, 2019

Bumped into a van load of “Blacks for Trump” folks walking into GWCC. I was so caught off guard I couldn’t (didn’t really want to) get a good picture. pic.twitter.com/uN3yZ2ZF4V
— Kesha = Chandra (@kesha_farley) November 8, 2019

The Florida-based group Blacks for Trump traveled to Atlanta today to support @realDonaldTrump’s launch of the “Black Voices for Trump” coalition. pic.twitter.com/C2cejZS5zk
— Nicquel Terry Ellis (@NTerryEllis) November 8, 2019

Can’t wait for the “Sexy Racist White People In Blacks For Trump Shirt” Halloween costumes next year. pic.twitter.com/qoUlQPEFg9
— john r stanton (@dcbigjohn) November 8, 2019

Very cool stuff!

Of course, Michael's involvement has sort of been a long time coming. He and his crew began getting involved in Tea Party politics more than half a decade ago — even though New Times reported in a 2011 feature story that Michael had essentially resurrected aspects of the murderous Nation of Yahweh after his trial ended. That year, New Times reported that Michael had been living in a series of hand-me-down mansions left over from Yahweh ben Yahweh's glory days. He routinely throws parties at the properties and, per that 2011 story, runs his own strange organization, the Brothers of Superior Status, or BOSS — a group of about 20 men who live rent-free on Michael's properties, listen to his sermons, and help tend the grounds.

Today is just the first day of the campaign for the coalition Black Voices for Trump. At least the public can rest soundly knowing the inaugural rally was totally normal.

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Jerry Iannelli is a former staff writer for Miami New Times from 2015 to March 2020. He graduated with honors from Temple University. He then earned a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.

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Twitter: @jerryiannelli