“CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King sparked controversy after asking why there weren’t “a lot of black people” at President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
The anchor made the comment as she offered commentary on the swearing-in ceremony as politicians, Supreme Court justices and dignitaries filtered into the US Capitol Rotunda.
“I don’t see many black people. Does anyone else notice this but me?” said the King. “I’m fascinated why is that?”
Norah O’Donnell, who anchored the network’s coverage, then noted that the inauguration coincided with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The day before he listed several prominent black leaders in attendance.
Megyn Kelly, the former Fox News star, was among several critics who slammed King for her observation.
“Gayle King on cbs is asking why there aren’t more “ppl of color” at the inauguration. Of course,” the SiriusXM “The Megyn Kelly Show” host wrote on X.
Aidan Kearney, a commentator who supports Trump, wrote: “The fact that this is the first thing you’re looking for is exactly why this guy will be inaugurated again.”
Tony Bruno, a former ESPN sports radio talk show host, wrote on X: “Looking at your morning show (which very few do) what is the racial breakdown of your staff?”
Others, however, supported King’s point, noting that the audience was overwhelmingly white, including high-profile figures like tech billionaires Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk.
A CBS spokesman declined to comment.
Among the black people attending the inauguration were former President Barack Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Vice President JD Vance’s wife, Usha, also attended. Usha Vance is the daughter of Indian immigrants.
One person who decided to skip the event was Michelle Obama, fueling ongoing speculation about her views on Trump and recent rumors about her marriage to the 44th president.
Trump used his inaugural address to herald the start of a “new golden age of America.”
One of his first policy priorities is to dismantle Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs at federal institutions.
DEI remains a sensitive issue. Supporters claim it helps correct systemic discrimination against minorities, while critics argue it results in discrimination against white and Asian Americans.
King’s outburst comes as CBS parent company Paramount Global is reportedly considering settling a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Trump related to a “60 Minutes” interview with Harris.
The lawsuit alleges that CBS aired selectively edited versions of the interview to favor Harris during the election.
The legal dispute poses a potential obstacle to Paramount’s planned $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by incoming chairman Brendan Carr, has indicated that Trump’s complaints with CBS News could complicate the process.
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