COLUMBIA, S.C. — Calling it the "most significant criminal justice reform in many generations" President Donald Trump revisited a signature bipartisan legislative achievement Friday at a South Carolina conference that will include weekend appearances from some of his Democratic presidential challengers.
Trump said faith leaders, law enforcement and others formed a historic coalition to get the bill passed. He signed it into law last December.
"We had them so liberal you wouldn't believe it and so conservative you wouldn't believe it," Trump said during remarks at a criminal justice conference held at historically black Benedict College.
The speech gave Trump a chance to highlight administration efforts to reduce the federal prison population and boost rehabilitation efforts.
The President made his second presidential trip to the state capital Friday to take part in the Second Step Presidential Forum at Benedict College.
Trump had the stage to himself Friday. The event's organizer, the 20/20 Bipartisan Justice Center, was presenting Trump with an award for his work on criminal justice reform.
Trump's appearance in the Palmetto State won't be without controversy.
Up until a few days ago, there was a push to have Trump's speech removed from the Benedict campus but the president will speak at a forum focusing on criminal justice reform.
For one, it's not an official Benedict College event. The forum is being hosted by the 20/20 Bipartisan Justice Center, which is made up of 20 black Republicans and 20 black Democrats. The event runs through Sunday and will also feature appearances by many Democratic candidates for president, including Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Corey Booker and Pete Buttigieg, just to name a few.
According to the South Carolina Democratic Party, when they received the invite, they did not know Trump would be there. The Democratic candidates will not appear at the forum at the same time as Trump.
Meanwhile, state and local leaders are criticizing the organization for hosting Trump, calling his visit to the historically black college unpleasant after the president compared the impeachment inquiry to a lynching.
The South Carolina Republican Party fired back, saying Trump is coming to South Carolina to speak to African Americans ahead of the 2020 election.
Ten Democratic presidential hopefuls will speak at the weekend forum in the key primary state. It's a chance to connect with black voters who view sentencing laws for drugs and other nonviolent offenses as disproportionately harsh toward minorities.
South Carolina will likely be in the Republican president's win column in November 2020, but the state plays a critical role in determining who will serve as the Democratic Party's presidential nominee.
Some state Democrats objected to the scant number of students who were at Friday's event. The audience included mostly Trump supporters.
"Let's not sugar coat it. The fact is, he is coming to this college today to create an appearance that people of color support his campaign," said South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Trav Robertson.
Benedict College President Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis issued the following statement that reads in part:
"We are excited for our students who will witness, first-hand, this historical bipartisan engagement. Most of all, the PJF Second Step Presidential Forum focused on Criminal Justice Reform, will serve as tangible evidence for our students of how diversity of thought and positive social action work together in the democracy of our country."