Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sought to peel away minority support from Democratic rival Hillary Clinton on Saturday (September 3), as he visited a predominantly black church in Detroit.

“Nothing is more sad than when we sideline young black men with unfulfilled potential tremendous potential,” Trump said during a visit to the Great Faith Ministries International Church.

• The real estate mogul and reality TV star vowed to use his business acumen to create jobs in Detroit and throughout the U.S.
• “I want to make America prosperous for everyone. I want to make this city the economic envy of the world. We can do that. We can do that again.”
• Trump could be seen swaying and clapping to gospel music during the early part of this visit. He was accompanied by Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon and former Republican presidential hopeful who grew up there, and Omarosa Manigault, a former contestant on his reality television show “The Apprentice.”
• Trump also addressed the black community’s concerns about unfair treatment by police and violence.
• “I fully understand that the African-American community has suffered from discrimination and that there are many wrongs that must still be made right. They will be made right.”

TRUMP MAKING GENUINE EFFORT TO REACH ACROSS BARRIERS

Trump’s outreach to minorities over recent weeks comes as he seeks to improve his chances in the Nov. 8 election and shake off months of offending the sensibilities of black and Hispanic voters with his hard line on immigration and rough-hewn social rhetoric.

Trump praised the role of the black church in the civil rights movement and other social justice issues..

“There is perhaps no action our leaders can take that would do more to heal our country and support our people that to provide a greater platform to the black churches and church goers.”

He received some of his enthusiastic applause when he read from scripture and when he told the crowd,

“Christian faith is not the past but the present and the future. We will make it stronger.”

Church leaders presented Trump with a prayer shawl and bibles for him and his wife Melania. Opinion polls show Trump has low support among black and Hispanic voters.