Nationwide — Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina says that some MAGA Republicans told him directly that slavery was a good thing. He also warned that some would try to bring back Jim Crow-style systems in the United States if given the chance.
Clyburn made the comments during an interview on PBS’s Firing Line with Margaret Hoover. In the same discussion, he spoke about his book The First Eight, which looks at South Carolina’s first eight Black members of Congress after the Civil War and how they shaped political progress.
He said the book was written after the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He said the event reflected long-standing ideas tied to the Antebellum South and modern political reactions.
According to Atlanta Black Star, a clip from the interview later circulated online, showing Clyburn talking about conversations he has had with some MAGA supporters in his district. He said a small number openly expressed support for returning to segregation-era systems.
When asked if he viewed MAGA Republicans as racist, Clyburn said he does not apply the label broadly, but said some individuals openly identify as white supremacists and defend slavery.
“I’m very circumspect about using the term. There are racists,” Clyburn said. “There are white supremacists. There are people who are supporters of this president who admit to me that they are white supremacists. I’ve had people who support this president tell me that they thought slavery was a good thing.”
He also referenced earlier polling of Trump supporters that showed differing views on emancipation and Civil War history.
Clyburn added that some supporters want policies that closely resemble slavery-era conditions without violating the Constitution. He warned that changes in the Supreme Court could make it easier for such efforts to advance, saying that systems from the past could reappear.