Former MSNBC anchor Joy Reid ignited debate this week after describing President Donald Trump, Elvis Presley, and others as “mediocre White men” whose achievements, she argued, are borrowed from the cultural contributions of Black Americans and other communities of color.
Reid made the remarks during a podcast interview with writer Wajahat Ali on his The Left Hook Substack, in an episode titled “How Mediocre White Men and Their Fragility Are Destroying America.”
“They can’t originally invent anything more than they ever were able to invent good music,” Reid said. “We Black folk gave y’all country music, hip-hop, R&B, jazz, rock and roll. They couldn’t even invent that, but they have to call a White man ‘The King.’”
Reid specifically referenced Elvis Presley’s 1956 hit “Hound Dog”—first recorded by Black blues singer Big Mama Thornton—as an example of how Black cultural creations were popularized by White artists.
Ali echoed her sentiment, arguing that conservative cultural institutions rely on “borrowing” from communities of color. “Without Black people, Brown people, the DEIs, there’s no culture in America,” he said during the episode.
The conversation also touched on Trump’s review of the Smithsonian and his reforms to the Kennedy Center, which Reid described as efforts to “clean up” history by downplaying slavery and systemic racism in preparation for America’s 250th anniversary.
The remarks drew sharp criticism from Trump allies. White House spokesman Harrison Fields responded, calling Reid “too unhinged for MSNBC” and accusing her of “degrading” the United States while benefiting from it.
Reid, who wore a hat supporting the 1619 Project during the interview, has long been a polarizing media figure.
While her supporters praise her for challenging systemic racism and cultural appropriation, critics argue she engages in divisive rhetoric.
Her comments have reignited long-standing debates about cultural appropriation, music history, and the role of race in America’s institutions.
