White men were "treated very badly": Trump says civil rights led to "reverse discrimination"

US President Donald Trump has reignited the debate on civil rights-era protections, claiming that they have resulted in "reverse discrimination" against white Americans. In a recent interview with The New York Times, Trump stated that many people of color were "badly treated" during this period, which he believes has led to unfair advantages for them.

Trump specifically mentioned affirmative action policies in college admissions, stating that it was "unfair in certain cases." He claimed that white people did not receive the same opportunities as their non-white counterparts and were excluded from university campuses. Trump described these policies as a form of "reverse discrimination."

However, Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, has vehemently disputed Trump's claims. According to Johnson, there is no evidence to support the idea that white men have been discriminated against due to the civil rights movement or its subsequent efforts to address systemic racism.

Johnson's comments align with the administration's stance on diversity and inclusion initiatives (DEI), which they claim are responsible for "illegal discrimination." In response to Trump's claims, his administration has promoted merit-based hiring processes through executive orders. Vice President JD Vance has also echoed this sentiment in an essay published recently, arguing that DEI policies have negatively impacted the job prospects of white men.

The comments have sparked concerns about the administration's stance on civil rights and equality, with many critics accusing Trump of perpetuating divisive rhetoric.

omg, can't believe what's going on - trump is bringing up this super sensitive topic again and it's just so misleading! everyone knows that affirmative action policies are in place to address the historical injustices faced by ppl of color. but nope, trump's trying to say that they're causing "reverse discrimination" against white people? please

and honestly, who hasn't heard of the struggles of ppl like janet collins or kay hagan - black women who broke barriers in sports and politics? or how about the countless other ppl of color who've been unfairly denied opportunities because of the system? you can't just erase that history

anyway, this whole thing is just getting under my skin - like, what's next? trying to say that vaccines are a form of "reverse discrimination" against those with disabilities? or that climate change denial is actually good for ppl from low-income areas? come on

man... trump's words are really bringing up some deep questions . it's like he's creating this narrative that people of color were only treated badly because they're 'bad' or something . but what if we're actually talking about a system that's been rigged against them all along? and now, when the tables get turned, suddenly it's not fair for white people to be considered for those opportunities?

i mean, think about it... affirmative action is just an attempt to level the playing field, right? but are we just swapping one problem for another? i'm not saying that everyone of color has been treated unfairly, but let's be real, systemic racism is a thing . and if trump thinks that white people have been discriminated against, maybe we should be talking about how that's happening in the first place.

it's like, we're so caught up in this narrative of 'reverse discrimination' that we're forgetting to look at the bigger picture . what does it say about our society when we can't even acknowledge the existence of racism anymore?

Man... I just can't even ... Donald Trump is at it again, trying to spin a whole new narrative on civil rights and affirmative action. Like, come on, dude... you can't seriously believe that the sacrifices made by people of color during the Civil Rights Era were somehow "reverse discriminatory" for white Americans? It's just so tone deaf.

And let's be real, Trump is bringing up some pretty tired tropes here – the idea that everyone got a free pass to college because of affirmative action policies. Newsflash: that's not how it works, buddy . The point of these policies was to level the playing field and create opportunities for people who were historically excluded from them.

It's also hilarious (in a sad way) that Trump is using his old "reverse discrimination" rhetoric again. You know, the one that's been thoroughly debunked time and time again? It's like he thinks we've all just forgotten what happened back in the 60s and 70s.

The thing is, though – this isn't just about Trump or his administration. This is about the kind of divisive rhetoric that can really harm people's perceptions of themselves and their place in society. So yeah... let's get real here, folks .

OMG can't believe what's going down right now! So Trump is saying that people of color are getting an unfair advantage in college admissions? like, I got a stat for you bro: 71% of Black students in the US are admitted to college compared to 58% of White students And what about Asian Americans? They have an admission rate of 55%!

And let's talk about DEI policies... did you know that companies with diverse workforces see a 35% increase in revenue growth? It's not about "reverse discrimination" – it's about addressing systemic racism and giving everyone an equal shot. The fact that White men are getting left behind is due to historical and ongoing biases, not policies.

The NAACP is right on point with Derrick Johnson , and I'm loving the pushback from organizations like the ACLU . Trump's comments are just a distraction from the real issues at hand – addressing income inequality, educational disparities, and economic opportunities for marginalized communities We need more inclusive policies, not less!

I think it's super concerning when someone like Donald Trump starts talking about "reverse discrimination" without doing his own research or considering multiple perspectives. It sounds like he's trying to turn the clock back on progress made during the civil rights era. The idea that white people are being unfairly discriminated against just because of their skin color is a total non-starter. We need to be acknowledging and addressing systemic racism, not denying it exists.

It's also pretty frustrating when politicians start making claims without any evidence to support them. If Trump is really worried about "reverse discrimination," he should be focusing on how we can create more opportunities for underrepresented groups, not trying to shift the blame onto people of color.

The whole DEI debate feels like a mess right now, and it's causing so much anxiety for marginalized communities. We need to be having real conversations about how to create more inclusive spaces, not perpetuating divisive rhetoric that just fuels fear and mistrust.

TRUMP'S CLAIMS ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS-ERA PROTECTIONS ARE COMPLETELY UNFAIR AND MISGUIDED ! HE'S TRYING TO DISTRACT US FROM HIS OWN PROBLEMS BY TARGETING PEOPLE OF COLOR AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICIES . IT'S LIKE HE FORGETS THAT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT WAS ALL ABOUT ENSURING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST WHITE AMERICANS . AND TO SAY THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR WERE "BADLY TREATED" IS COMPLETELY WRONG - THAT'S JUST A HATEFUL ATTEMPT TO DIVIDE US . IT'S TIME FOR TRUMP TO FOCUS ON REAL ISSUES INSTEAD OF SPREADING FAKE NEWS !

I'm getting so tired of politicians using buzzwords like "reverse discrimination" without actually understanding what they mean. Like, can't we just stick to discussing actual problems instead of creating new ones? And seriously, who does Trump think he is, speaking for an entire group of people just because of his own perceived experiences?

And then there's Johnson, trying to set the record straight. I feel like we need more nuanced conversations about this stuff - not some simplistic "you're being racist" or "you're not being racist enough". We need to have actual data and evidence to back up our claims, you know? Like, if DEI policies are really causing problems for white men, then show us the stats. Don't just make wild accusations and expect everyone to take them at face value.

And can we please, for the love of all things good, stop using terms like "illegal discrimination" as a talking point? It's not only misleading, but it also makes everyone sound like they're about to win a prize in some kind of moral Olympics. Let's just focus on actual solutions instead of creating more noise around the issue.

I'm low-key freaked out about this . Like, Donald Trump is literally trying to erase all the progress we made after the Civil Rights Movement? It's like, he thinks that just because some white people had a hard time getting into college, it means they're being discriminated against? Newsflash, Donnie: affirmative action policies are in place to help level the playing field for people of color who've been systematically oppressed and marginalized. It's not about "reverse discrimination" – it's about recognizing that history has been written with a dominant white narrative and trying to right those wrongs.

And don't even get me started on JD Vance's essay . Like, dude, if you're really concerned about fairness, why are you promoting policies that benefit the same people who've always had power? It's time to listen to the voices of people who've been affected by systemic racism and stop perpetuating divisive rhetoric.

I got a bad vibe from this whole situation . Like, come on Donald, you're trying to say that people of color are getting ahead by virtue of being targeted for centuries? That doesn't sit right with me. And what's with the "reverse discrimination" label? It sounds like code for "I'm not comfortable seeing anyone succeed who doesn't look like me". I mean, can't we all just get along and acknowledge that racism is a real issue that affects people of color in ways you can't even begin to understand?

And on the other hand, Derrick Johnson's got some good points too. We need to be careful not to undermine the progress made by the civil rights movement without acknowledging the systemic issues that still exist today. It's like trying to put out a fire with gasoline – it's just not going to work.

man I dont get why trump is still bringing up this old stuff like its 2025 and we should be way beyond this by now. his claims about reverse discrimination are just laughable, especially considering how hard it was for ppl of color to get opportunities back in the day. affirmative action policies were put in place to level the playing field, not to give one group an advantage over another and its just crazy that some ppl still think its fair game to take away these protections

I'm so concerned about what's going on here . Trump's claims about reverse discrimination are just not backed up by facts - it's like he's trying to rewrite history . And can you believe he's blaming affirmative action for being unfair? That's like saying that a student who gets in because of their grades is somehow less deserving than one who got in because of their race .

I mean, come on, Trump, have you done your research? Have you talked to people from different backgrounds and listened to their stories? Or are you just making stuff up as you go along? And what about all the evidence that shows how hard it is for people of color to get ahead in this country without help? That's not reverse discrimination, that's systemic inequality .

The fact that Trump's administration is promoting merit-based hiring processes is just a way to disguise their own racism and bias . And JD Vance's essay is just more proof of that - he's using the same old tired rhetoric to try to convince people that white men are being unfairly discriminated against . It's time for some real change, not this divisive nonsense .

Trump's comments about civil rights-era protections are really worrying me . I think we should be having a conversation about how systemic racism affects people of color, but instead he's trying to turn the narrative around and make it about white people being unfairly treated . It's like he thinks that just because there were injustices in the past, they don't still have an impact today? It's not about "reverse discrimination" – it's about recognizing how racism has been and continues to be a part of our society .

I think we need to take a step back and remember that everyone deserves equal opportunities and respect . We should be working together to address the systemic inequalities, not trying to shift the blame onto people who are already marginalized . It's time for us to have a real conversation about how we can create a more just and equitable society for everyone .

omg, can't believe trump is at it again . like, come on man, you're saying people of color were "badly treated" but then you turn around and say affirmative action policies are unfair? what's good with that? . anyone who's been paying attention knows that systemic racism is real, so to say that white folks aren't being discriminated against is just laughable .

and seriously, how can trump not see the harm his words are causing? it's like he's trying to fuel more division and hate in this country . the NAACP is right on point with Derrick Johnson - there's no evidence to support the idea that white people are being discriminated against, so why keep spouting that nonsense? .

and btw, who needs "reverse discrimination" when you've got actual systemic racism to tackle ? we need more efforts to address inequality, not just pretend like it doesn't exist . anyone else with me on this?

I don't get why Trump is still bringing up this stuff. Like, we all know that racism and inequality are real issues, but does he really think that just because there were some problems back in the day, it means people of color today are getting an unfair advantage? I mean, affirmative action is just a way to help level the playing field, right? It's not like it's going to make white people automatically get more jobs or anything. And what about all the times when racism has been used as a reason to deny people opportunities? That doesn't seem fair at all...

omg can't believe trump is stirring up all this drama again like what even is reverse discrimination? it sounds like a bunch of hooey to me and honestly it's just plain hurtful to people who are already marginalized affirmative action policies have been in place for decades and they're still essential for ensuring equal access to education and job opportunities. we can't just erase the systemic racism that's been embedded in our society for centuries

Ugh I'm so done with this whole thing! Trump is just trying to stir up drama again. Like, come on, he knows he can't prove that people of color are getting preferential treatment, right? The fact that he's even bringing it up is a red flag.

And can we talk about how messed up the whole affirmative action thing is? I mean, it's not like these policies were put in place to hurt white people or anything (spoiler alert: they weren't). It was all about trying to address the systemic inequalities that had been ignored for far too long.

The NAACP is totally right to call out Trump's claims. Where's the evidence? I'm not seeing any, and neither should we be. And as for this whole "reverse discrimination" nonsense... it's just a clever way of saying "I don't like change, so I'm gonna complain about it".

Merit-based hiring is one thing, but let's not confuse that with attacking people of color for their heritage. That's just basic human decency, folks .

can't believe trump is bringing up old issues like this again. like, come on dude, we're past that now . affirmative action was put in place to address the systemic racism that's been ingrained in our society for centuries. it's not about giving people of color an unfair advantage, it's about making sure everyone has a fair shot at success.

and what's with trump saying white people were "badly treated" during the civil rights era? that's just plain ignorant. we know what happened back then - brutal police brutality, lynchings, segregation... it was a dark time in our country's history. and now trump wants to flip the script and say everyone of color is somehow benefiting from it? it's just not adding up .

and honestly, if white men are really being discriminated against, can we see some evidence? because from where i'm standing, it looks like they're getting all the opportunities and benefits. maybe we should focus on addressing the real issues of systemic racism rather than trying to spin a narrative that benefits your base