Joy Reid Slams Trump and Elvis as ‘Mediocre White Men’ Who Steal Black Culture

Joy Reid’s Controversial Comments

Former MSNBC host Joy Reid reignited debate on race, politics, and culture after blasting Donald Trump, Elvis Presley, and others as examples of what she called “mediocre White men.”

Speaking with author Wajahat Ali on his Left Hook Substack, Reid argued that America has a long history of elevating White men whose success depends on appropriating the work of Black and Brown communities. The episode was titled: “How Mediocre White Men and Their Fragility Are Destroying America.”

Ali and Reid Criticize Trump’s Kennedy Center Reforms

Ali opened the conversation by pointing to Trump’s changes at the Kennedy Center, describing them as a “hostile takeover.” The institution, which had previously hosted diverse performances such as drag shows, is now being reshaped to showcase pro-American and conservative programming.

“These people cannot create culture on their own,” Ali said. “Without Black people, Brown people, the DEIs — there’s no culture in America. We make the food better. We make the economy better. We make the music better. MAGA can’t create culture. They got Cracker Barrel and Kid Rock.”

Reid agreed, adding that conservative leaders often play the victim rather than engage in genuine debate. “They don’t have the intellectual rigor to actually argue with us,” Reid said. “They tattle and tell. They run to the teacher and say, ‘The Black lady or the Brown man was mean to me.’ That’s what they always do.”

Smithsonian and America’s History

Wearing a hat referencing the 1619 Project before switching to one marked “FDT,” Reid criticized Trump’s efforts to influence the Smithsonian’s exhibits ahead of the United States’ 250th anniversary.

“They can’t fix the history they did. Their ancestors made this country into a slave hell, but they can clean it up now because they got the Smithsonian,” she argued. “They can erase the slavery stuff. They got PragerU to lie about history to children.”

Elvis Presley and Black Musical Roots

Reid turned her criticism toward Elvis Presley, calling his success another example of culture being stolen from Black artists.

“We Black folk gave y’all country music, hip-hop, R&B, jazz, rock and roll,” Reid said. “They couldn’t even invent that, but they have to call a White man ‘The King.’ Because they couldn’t make rock and roll, so they stamp ‘The King’ on a man whose main song was stolen from an overweight Black woman.”

Reid was referring to “Hound Dog”, originally recorded in 1952 by Big Mama Thornton, a Black blues singer. The song, written by two Jewish-American songwriters, became a hit in 1956 when Elvis re-recorded it with a faster beat and altered lyrics. While Presley admitted his influences from Black musicians, Reid argued that his fame epitomized how America often credits White artists for styles pioneered by Black culture.

White House Fires Back

The White House quickly responded to Reid’s comments through spokesman Harrison Fields, who dismissed her remarks as extreme and bitter.

“Joyless Reid is an ungrateful hack who fails to acknowledge her privilege,” Fields said. “Whatever remains of her success would only be possible in the United States, the same country she degrades for sport. She was too unhinged for MSNBC and was fired. Instead of changing her act, she’s doubled down on stupid.”