Darrell C. Scott

Darrell C. Scott is an American pastor and a member of President Donald Trump's executive transition team. He is a co-founder of the New Spirit Revival Center in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.[1][2][3][4][5] He is a co-founder, along with Michael D. Cohen, and board member of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump.

Pastor Darrell C. Scott
2016 Republican National Convention
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPastor
EmployerNew Spirit Revival Center, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Spouse(s)Belinda Scott

Early life

According to his statements at a rally for President Trump, Scott aspired as a child to be a drug dealer and pimp; Scott sold drugs, used cocaine, stole automobiles and took his fathers 9mm pistol to school at age 16 and was expelled for it.[3] While in his 20s, Scott became a born again Christian after being inspired by his wife who was born again months earlier, after a neighbor had urged her to attend church.[4]

In 2004, Scott received an honorary doctorate from St. Thomas Christian College (now University), a school without accreditation from the Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.[6]

Career

Scott is the founder and pastor of New Spirit Revival Center, in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.[7][8] Scott's non-denominational church operates out of a former Jewish Synagogue built in 1924, a 115k square foot facility, that has a daycare, banquet hall and radio station, with 3,500 members as of 2005.[9] The radio station broadcasts under call sign WCCD (1000 AM) – branded Radio 1000. WCCD

Role in 2016 Presidential election

Scott met Donald Trump in 2011 after being invited to Trump Tower, when Trump was considering a run for president.[10][1] After Trump announced his candidacy, Scott was one of the first African-American pastors to support Trump and a key figure in leading other African-American pastors to attend meetings at Trump Tower. In 2016, Scott and Donald Trump's personal attorney and campaign spokesperson Michael D. Cohen co-founded National Diversity Coalition for Trump, that began operations in April, 2016.[11][12] The group's advisory board has leaders from American-Muslims for Trump, African-American Pastors for Trump, and Korean-Americans for Trump.[13][14] Scott introduced Trump at a rally at Cleveland I-X Center before the Ohio Republican primary and later hosted Trump at his church with a large group of pastors in attendance, the event aired on Fox News Hannity show.[5] In July, 2016, on the third day of the Republican National Convention, Scott was a keynote speaker in support of Donald Trump's nomination for the Republican Party, Scott stated in his speech that the "Democrat party has failed us".[15]

Post election

After the election, Scott gave an interview to National Public Radio and described the Democratic Party as "pimps" who "pimped out the inner city" like a "pimp stands next to a prostitute".[16]

On November 30, 2016, President Trump selected Scott to be part of his executive transition team in which Scott publicly thanked Trump on Twitter, that resulted in a backlash on social media, Scott was called an Uncle Tom and was accused of taking money in exchange for his support of President Donald Trump.[5]

In January 2017, CNN's Marc Lamont Hill characterized Scott and other members of Trump's diversity team as "mediocre Negroes" during a Don Lemon CNN Tonight segment.[17]

On February 1, 2017, President Donald Trump responded with enthusiasm during a White House Black History Month event, to Scott's suggestion that gang leaders in Chicago wanted to meet to help reduce gun violence.[18]

On April 18, 2017, Scott hosted a meeting at the Washington hotel with six Chicago residents that hope to start a community service called "Stronger Together", to rehabilitate housing and start new technical high schools teaching skills such as producing rap music.[19]

On August 1, 2018, Scott said during a White House gathering of faith leaders that he thinks President Trump will be “the most pro-black president” in his lifetime.[20]

Television appearances

Scott has appeared as a commentator on networks Fox News,[21] MSNBC,[22] and CNN.[23]

Issues and controversies

On February 2, 2017, Scott said he had "misspoke" at the White House due to lack of sleep, when he stated Chicago's "top gang thugs" would "lower the body count" if new federal programs were provided.[24] On March 3, 2017, WEWS-TV Channel 5 Cleveland reported Scott was being sued for back rent on a home, Scott referred to the claim as "fake".[25] Courthouse News Service reported the breach is of a formal land contract and not a lease option.[26]

Personal life

Scott is married to Belinda Scott.[27]

References
  1. "What makes a black Cleveland pastor back Donald Trump?". Washington Post. July 17, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  2. "Donald Trump Courts Black Pastors, Claiming 'Great Love' in Meeting". New York Times. November 20, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  3. "Trump's Pastor Pal Wants to be an advocate for the right". New York Post. December 18, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  4. "What Do Black Preachers Want From Trump?". The Daily Beast. November 2, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  5. "Cleveland pastor Darrell Scott given role on Trump transition team". WKYC. November 30, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  6. "Trump Transition Board Member Claims Fake Degree". Dispatches From the Culture Wars. 2017-01-05. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  7. "Why Pastor Darrell Scott Is Hoping Black Voters Give Trump a Chance". nationalreview.com. December 7, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  8. "Cleveland Heights pastor Darrell Scott connects Donald Trump with other black ministers". The Plain Dealer. November 30, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  9. "NEW SPIRIT REVIVAL CENTER". cleveland.com. October 27, 2005. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  10. "Donald Trump's Prosperity Preachers". Time. February 10, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  11. "Trump 'Diversity Coalition' Holds Hectic First Meeting". NBC News. April 18, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  12. Bernal, Rafael. "Trump diversity council in spotlight after Charlottesville remarks".
  13. "Meet the People Trying to Prevent Minority Voters From Bailing on Trump". Mother Jones. August 5, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  14. "Pastor Darrell Scott Stumps for Trump in Sunday Services". clevescene.com. December 7, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  15. "Pastor Darrell Scott addresses attendees on the 3rd night of the RNC". www.cleveland.com. July 20, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  16. "African-American Trump Supporter Celebrates Election Result". npr.org. November 16, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  17. "CNN's Marc Lamont Hill: Blacks meeting with Trump are 'mediocre Negroes'". The Hill. January 17, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  18. "Cleveland-area pastor seeks gang meeting on Chicago violence, hopes Trump will attend". Chicago Tribune. February 1, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  19. "Ohio minister's summit on cutting Chicago 'body count' becomes charity start-up seminar (video)". cleveland.com. April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  20. "Trump praised as 'pro-black' at White House prison reform event". NBC News. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  21. "Pastor Darrell Scott on gangs working with Trump". Fox Business Network. February 2, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  22. "Pastor Scott defends Trump after rally violence". MSNBC. March 15, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  23. "Pastor: black apostolics don't believe in female presidents". CNN. September 11, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  24. "Ohio pastor walks back comment that Chicago gang leaders want to work with Trump". fox32chicago.com/. February 3, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  25. "Cleveland Heights pastor with ties to President Trump being sued over back rent". newsnet5.com/. March 3, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  26. "Trump Surrogate". Courthouse News Service. March 3, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  27. "Transcript: President Trump in African American History Month Listening Session". CNN. February 1, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  • Profile on New Spirit Revival Center website
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