CNN commentator Van Jones complimented President Donald Trump after he expressed support for a criminal justice bill.
Trump endorsed the First Step Act on Wednesday, a bipartisan bill focused on prison and sentencing reform.
“Americans from across the political spectrum can unite around prison reform legislation that will reduce crime while giving our fellow citizens a chance at redemption,” he said during a press conference. “So if something happens and they make a mistake, they get a second chance at life.”
According to the #FirstStepAct website, suggested reforms include:
- Bans the shackling of pregnant and postpartum women
- Provides an ID card for every person when they are released
- Lower lifetime mandatory minimum sentences for people with prior nonviolent drug felony convictions to 25 years, and reduce 20-year mandatory minimum sentences for similar offenses to 15 years
Jones tweeted his shoutout to 45 on Wednesday evening:
Give the man his due: @realDonaldTrump is on his way to becoming the uniter-in-Chief on an issue that has divided America for generations. Congrats to everyone on both sides who fought for this. #FIRSTSTEPact
#CriminalJusticeSummit
#CriminalJusticeReform
#justicereform
#Trump
https://t.co/G9kI1C3gXy— Van Jones (@VanJones68) November 14, 2018
He also gave Trump his props a few hours later during an interview with Don Lemon.
Full clip here: "There are 200,000 people behind bars. They have no hope, no help. We haven't passed a bill to help them in almost two generations. This is something both parties can take some credit for it. I hope we will give this thing a chance to pass." #FirstStepAct
@cut_50
pic.twitter.com/yNyF6Ms8gB— Van Jones (@VanJones68) November 15, 2018
“I think you got to give him some credit,” Jones said. “When Obama was in office no matter what he did, the right-wing just kicked his butt. He did stuff that the conservatives have been begging him to do, and then they kicked his butt. So, I say the 99 times I don’t agree with the president, I’m going to give him hell. On this one, I’ll give him a salute and applause… If you can’t put politics aside to help people who are suffering and struggling in prison when there’s a shot to do something on a bipartisan basis, then I think we’ve taken politics too far.”
Well, a lot of folks can’t put politics to the side and blasted Jones for complimenting Trump.
This was more entertaining when Jill Scott did it. https://t.co/GJA8AL0num
— jelani cobb (@jelani9) November 15, 2018
Give the white supremacist misogynist his due, Van Jones says.. https://t.co/y1Da7P0uHv
— Crystal Marie Fleming (@alwaystheself) November 15, 2018
This is why I don’t listen to Van Jones… Trump doesn’t even know what’s in this bill, he’s not the architect of it, but Van Jones wants to give him credit as an alleged “uniter”. Now the bill is very suspect to me. #FirstStepAct
https://t.co/xlLaejMMDC— Sylvia ???????? (@Tellall2012) November 15, 2018
Uniter-in-Chief? Are you for real, Van??? You’ve been covering this con artist long enough to know how much he loves photo ops. Save your over-effusive praise for if and when he ever actually signs the bill into law.
— Dr. Avis (@SistahScholar) November 15, 2018
Van Jones waaaaaay too committed to normalizing Trump. It’s annoying
— Black Man Black Manning (@PercivalPenman) November 15, 2018
I’m not even disappointed in Van Jones, being disappointed means I had a higher expectation for him and I hold none.
But I’m amazed he’d even use that term to describe a person who has led to much division in America.
— Stephanie (@StephBMore) November 15, 2018
Has anyone seen this Van Jones. He seems to be lost. pic.twitter.com/sBGA4VdYUI
— Christina (@ChristinaS915) November 15, 2018
Since Trump favors the bill, its success is up to Congress. If the act earns 60 Senate votes, it will be brought to the floor for a vote, according to Mediate.
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