Sen. Tim Scott Timothy (Tim) Eugene ScottAuthor Ryan Girdusky: RNC worked best when highlighting 'regular people' as opposed to 'standard Republicans' Now is the time to renew our focus on students and their futures GOP lobbyists pleasantly surprised by Republican convention MORE (R-S.C.), the only black Republican in the Senate, said in a new interview that incidents like the Trayvon Martin shooting caused him to become more outspoken on race in America.

“I’ve been in public life for 25 years almost, and I’ve been reluctant [to speak about race] for about 22 of those 25 years,” Scott told The Wall Street Journal this week. “Trayvon Martin and other issues just kept populating the public forum, and at some point, I decided that I was doing the nation a disservice by not speaking out clearly when necessary.”

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Though Scott is a staunch ally of President Trump Donald John TrumpBubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team Graham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE’s, he has voiced disagreements with the president on comments he’s made regarding race, the Journal noted.

For example, Scott said he would not “defend the indefensible" when asked about Trump's comments in 2017 that there were fine people on "both sides" of the deadly confrontation between white nationalists and counter protesters in Charlottesville, Va.

He also has taken pains to vet, or in certain instances even block, Trump nominees for judgeships or cabinet positions over concerns regarding that person’s views on race.

However, the South Carolina Republican has also praised the president for helping improve the economy, resulting in declining unemployment rates among African Americans.

When asked if he thinks Trump is a racist, Scott told the Journal, "I don't."

"I think he’s had some racial insensitivities,” he added.

Scott also said he does not want to be referred to as "the black senator" or "the black Republican."

“I am a United States senator with the responsibilities of every other senator, and in addition to that, I have the unusual position of being the only conservative African-American in the Senate,” he said.

“Unfortunately, on some of the issues of race, there has been no one else that can say it in the way that I can say it with the credibility on the right that I have.”