Former Democrat mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick, has officially endorsed Donald Trump.
The Trump campaign announced the endorsement on Saturday ahead of Trump’s appearance at 180 Church in Detroit.
Trump had previously commuted Kilpatrick’s sentence. In 2021, Trump reduced Kilpatrick’s 28-year sentence for public corruption to time served after the former mayor had spent eight years in prison.
Reflecting on being commuted, Kilpatrick stated, “Who could ever not be thankful for him being in that position at that time and for him helping me?”
BREAKING: After Trump's Detroit visit, Kwame Kilpatrick, the former Democrat Mayor of Detroit, Michigan has endorsed Trump for President
— George (@BehizyTweets) June 15, 2024
“I can never thank President Trump enough for what he's done for me and my family by giving me freedom," Kilpatrick said. "But I believe this… pic.twitter.com/LhOkvsyCf4
From Deadline Detroit:
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who was released early from federal prison by then-President Donald Trump, has formally endorsed Trump, the Detroit News reports.
The Trump campaign announced the endorsement on Saturday before Trump’s appearance at the 180 Church on Detroit’s west side.The endorsement comes as no real surprise since Kilpatrick has expressed deep gratitude to Trump, who commuted his sentence to time served in January 2021.
Kilpatrick served nearly eight of. a 28 year sentence for public corruption.
In March, Kilpatrick, 53, attended a Trump rally in Saginaw County, which could have been perceived as a clear sign that he was considering a formal endorsement. In an interview with Deadline Detroit in January 2022 on Livernois in Detroit, Kilpatrick expressed his appreciation for Trump for commuting his sentence: ”Who could ever not be thankful for him being in that position at that time and for him helping me.”
Trump campaign touts Kwame Kilpatrick endorsement ahead of Detroit church visit https://t.co/Sc24BXQz6o
— The Detroit News (@detroitnews) June 15, 2024