Trump supporter leaves inauguration optimistic, asks protesters to give president a chance
Corrin Rankin speaks with guest host Helen Mann, from Washington D.C., just before the Inauguration Parade. Rankin is a small business owner from the San Francisco Bay Area and during the campaign she worked with the California for Trump Black Coalition.
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Corrin Rankin (right) is a Bay Area business owner and California director of African Americans for Trump. She attended Friday's inauguration and said she felt validated by the experience. (Corrin Rankin/Facebook)
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When Corrin Rankin watched the inauguration in Washington, D.C. on Friday, she didn't just feel triumphant. She also felt at home, surrounded by fellow supporters of Donald Trump.
If there's a stereotypical Trump voter, Rankin isn't it. She's a black woman and she's from the San Francisco Bay area.
Corrin Rankin (Corrin Rankin/Twitter) But on Friday, she reveled alongside those who had seen something in President Trump — just like she did when she volunteered for the California for Trump Black Coalition.
Rankin spoke with As It Happens guest host Helen Mann just before the Inauguration Parade about why she's optimistic about the America's future under a Trump presidency. Here is part of their conversation.
Helen Mann: Corrin, what's the mood like where you are now?
Corrin Rankin: Exciting. There's so many people around me. It's almost indescribable the amount of just joy and happiness and optimism that is floating through the air . . . The streets are filled with people wearing their patriotic colours, wearing Trump hats, wearing Trump scarves, American flags and just really being proud to be an American here today.
U.S. President Donald Trump takes the oath of office as his wife Melania Trump holds the bible and his son Barron Trump looks on. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) HM: How did it feel to be there in the crowd when President Trump took his oath and gave his first speech as president?
CR: Amazing. It was just a phenomenal experience. I was a delegate at the convention. I worked on the campaign. It was a hard campaign. We had a lot of ups and downs and sometimes we had both in the same day. But our now president, he provided tremendous leadership during those times. His message of perseverance — it was so inspiring. Dare I say, I'm almost a better person for having experienced that. I feel much more optimistic about the future of our country. He doesn't let anything stop him.
HM: Was there any part of his speech today that really connected with you?
CR: Oh, absolutely. It was the first line of his speech. When he said today is a day that it is a peaceful transition of power. It's not a peaceful transition from one party to another. It's a transition from the Washington, D.C. establishment to the citizens of America. That just sent chills up my spine.
HM: You live in the San Francisco area. You're black. You're a woman. I'm wondering how people react when they realize that you voted for Donald Trump and not for Hillary Clinton?
CR: [Laughs] I know. Here in America, for some reason, we like to put people in boxes. Once we put them in their box, we kind of feel comfortable because we know who they are and what they're going to do. For many years, I think that it's just been the assumption that, if you're black, you should be a Democrat and you should vote Democrat. But today is a new day. There were a lot of black people today in that audience and it made me really proud because they are not going for it anymore. They are not going to be told who they should vote for or how they should think.
You don't have to agree with him on everything. You are free to disagree, but try to give him a chance.- Corrin Rankin
People look on and listen as President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address during the Inauguration on Jan. 20, 2017 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Ricky Carioti Pool/Getty Images) HM: As a woman, as a mother, were you not put off by some of his statements and the controversies around his apparent attitude toward women?
CR: You know, he's a human being. As a human being, we all make mistakes. Just like everybody else, I don't like every single thing that comes out of his mouth. I don't have to like everything that he says. The fact that he does make mistakes and he apologizes for them, I admire that. I don't admire what he said, but I admire his ability to take responsibility for his actions. My parents raised me to be a strong woman, so his words that he said 12 years ago, it doesn't make me feel like any less of a person.
U.S. President Donald Trump supporters pray on the National Mall during the inauguration. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) HM: What do you think about the fact that he's being advised by Steve Bannon, whose website has been embraced by white supremacists?
CR: Hey, this is a free country. I obviously don't like the KKK. For many years, we've been saying this is a free country and everybody has the right to do and say what they want — except for you — because we don't like what you're saying. I don't like the KKK. I have nothing nice to say about them. But does that mean that they're not allowed to believe what they believe? It doesn't — not if we're going to be free.
President Donald Trump raises a fist after his inauguration. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) HM: There are a lot of protesters that are not as happy as you today. If you had a chance to engage with them in conversation, just say one or two things so that maybe you could understand each other, what would you say?
CR: I have had the opportunity on a couple of different occasions. I've said it then and I'll say it again. I would encourage them to just listen. Listen to Donald Trump. He is our president now and he has said on many different occasions that he wants to be the president of everyone. I would also let them know that it's okay — you don't have to agree with him on everything. You are free to disagree, but try to give him a chance.
HM: Is there anything about Donald Trump that you'd like to see change, now that he is president?
CR: No, nothing. I don't want him to stop tweeting. I don't want him to change anything.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For more on this story, listen to our full interview with Corrin Rankin.
