Donalds seemed to suggest while speaking at a “Congress, Cognac, and Cigars” event in Philadelphia that Black families were better off during the Jim Crow era because they were “together.” He also noted that, “more Black people were not just conservative — Black people have always been conservative-minded — but more people voted conservatively.”

Those remarks made the rounds Wednesday, sparking criticism from others in the Black community — including his colleagues.

Asked Wednesday evening by CNN’s Abby Phillip whether he regretted using that time frame as a reference, he argued that his words were taken out of context.

“Nobody ever made nostalgia,” Donalds responded Wednesday night, in an interview highlighted by Mediaite. “That was never the point. It wasn’t even about that. So where now I’m gonna get my backup is, I didn’t say that. I didn’t even insinuate that.” 

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