Sen. Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, and someone who is frequently mentioned as a 2024 White House contender, sought in a speech Tuesday night to rebut those who “question my Blackness.”
Scott appeared at the Reagan Library in Semi Valley, Calif., as part of a “Time for Choosing” speaker’s series, which has been billed as platform for leading voices of the conservative movement. In his speech, Scott shared how his personal life had put him on a path toward conservative politics and spared no words for those who’ve questioned his choices.
“So, for those of you on the left, you can call me a prop, you can call me a token, you can call me the N word, you can question my Blackness, you can even call me Uncle Tim,” Scott said. “Just understand what you call me is no match for the proof of my life. Your words are no match for my evidence. Your pessimism is no match for the truth of my history.”
Scott is clearly trying to boost his national exposure with an eye toward 2024. He’s considered a potential GOP presidential candidate or a leading contender to be Donald Trump’s running mate if the former president seeks a comeback.
During an appearance on Fox News in February, Scott signaled an openness to the latter option.
“I think everybody wants to be on President Trump’s bandwagon, without any question,” Scott said.