“You know, talking to the people who drive the cars and park the cars at Mar-a-Lago, they love him — the people who wash the dishes, because he's kind and compassionate,” Carson said of the president.

He continued: “When he bought Mar-a-Lago, he was the one who fought for Jews and blacks to be included in the clubs that were trying to exclude them. You know, people say he's a racist, he is not a racist.”

Looking back at his notes again, Carson went on: “It is certainly an act of compassion to help our fellow Americans who are struggling in neighborhoods.”

The impromptu defense of the president’s interactions and reference to at his glitzy West Palm Beach resort comes as Trump aggressively courts black voters as part of his reelection campaign.

Trump redoubled these efforts on Friday, accusing Democrats of treating black voters "badly" and only coming around because "they want your vote."

"They only come around two months before the election," Trump said. "And then right after the election they say, 'Bye, bye, we’ll see you in two years or four years,' right?"

Trump, heralding the improving employment numbers among African Americans, reflected on his efforts to get black voters to switch from the Democratic Party to supporting him.

"And I said, all these bad numbers, what the hell do you have to lose?" Trump said, adding an aside about how he decides whether or not to use the word "hell" depending on his crowd.

"When I go, 'What do you have to lose,' it’s like, let’s fall asleep. But I remember I said it this night, what it was, 25,000 people, I said, 'What the hell do you have to lose?' The place went crazy."

Trump's campaign has sought to make inroads with the traditionally heavily Democratic voting bloc, emphasizing the criminal justice reform legislation he signed and promoting Opportunity Zones despite having faced accusations of racism going back decades.

Last year Trump picked feuds with several lawmakers of color using racist rhetoric. And just a week ago he expanded his administration’s travel ban to include several more African countries including Nigeria, drawing renewed attention to his past remarks about “shithole countries” in Africa and his specific complaint that Nigerians coming to the U.S. will never “go back to their huts.”

