Cleveland Heights pastor Rev. Darrell Scott was at the White House for Donald Trump’s meeting honoring Black History Month. (The full transcript of the President’s remarks on Black History Month, which you should absolutely read in full if you haven’t already, are here.)

Scott has been a Trump supporter and surrogate since early in the campaign and hosted a “midwest values” summit between Trump and Sean Hannity in Cleveland Heights in September.

At yesterday’s televised festivities, Scott made some newsworthy comments that strained credulity: He’d been in contact with gang leaders in Chicago who told him that “they’re going to commit that if they lower the body count, we come and do some social programs.”

Trump responded: “If they’re not going to solve the problems, what you’re doing is the right thing, then we’re going to solve the problem for them. Because we’re going to have to do something about Chicago. ‘Cause what’s happening in Chicago should not be happening in this country.”

The Rev. added:  “They want to work with this administration.”


Many, including reporters and residents and pastors in Chicago, were taken aback by the statement. Fox 32 in Chicago wanted some more clarification so they got Scott on the phone. Was any of that true? Absolutely not.

“No! I mean, c’mon now! (laughs) No!” he told the station. He misspoke. Oh, and he was tired:

Pastor Darrell Scott also told FOX 32 a lack of sleep caused him to tell President Trump that Chicago gangs had offered to “lower the body count.” He said he actually spoke to one former gang member, and not to any gang leaders.

This article appears in Feb 1-7, 2017.

Vince Grzegorek has been with Scene since 2007 and editor-in-chief since 2012. He previously worked at Discount Drug Mart and Texas Roadhouse.

28 replies on “Cleveland Hts. Pastor Darrell Scott Says He Misspoke at White House Black History Month Event, Blames Lack of Sleep”

  3. Just build a dirt-bike track. Don Trump can then boast about a huge infrastructure project and the hundreds – no, thousands – of jobs that have been created….because it’s huge, folks — trust me, it’s huge. And it will be the future home of his new Tour de Trump — which will bring thousands of more huge jobs back to America.

  5. We have a president who craves the admiration of Chicago gangsters, so much so that he lies about it.

    This country is on a greased sled to Hell.

  9. I think the “top gang thugs” gave his ass a call, and he changed his story. Don’t mess with us in Chi pastor.

  11. He was lying all the time Chicago’s gang’s would have ask the honorable Louis. Farrakhan first whom they have some respect for and they know who lives in Chicago before asking a unknown so called pastor from Cleveland Ohio think about it he knew Trump is ignorant so just thought he would blow this fast ball by him and misused some of that federal grant money what he doesn’t know somebody got to made a example of and he’s a primetime candidate.be sitting in the penitentiary for stealing Federal money

  12. Avekat don’t be stupid! How could you conjure up that type of rationale where someone is making him change his mind. Every black person that heard him mention he met with ” gang thug” automatically knew he was lying. He’s not even from Chicago and no one knows him at ALL. Ain’t no gang leader saying they support Trump. He need to be slapped

  17. The real issue is this people, they have used this story to divert your attention from wbat is realy going on. Look at the heads of the departments, not one of them is answering any qestionsx profiding any information, or meeting any of the qaulifications needed to percorm there jobs. So what is realy important hear. If you keep messing around there wont be any black history to celebrate black history month about. Do your research. The news thought hitler was joking also until stuff got real. Think of it this way, we are all play fighting, he is fighting for real. Take notice, keep watch, pay attention to the underlay, for the over play. This revered is just a pawn in a major game of chess. Sit back be quiet and watch the next move. So focus energy on that. He has got to get out of there before he does some real.damage. Oh yeah. One of the executive orders that be sighned was deregulating coal producers . Our previous president had regulated that so the coal producers would not kill us bye contaminating the water, wich contaminates the soil. But guess who gave them free reighn. Now they can pour all the waste that they want to into the waters, that the american people drink. But h loves this country sooooooo much.

  18. All these black people are losers that’s working for Trump. I see that dumb lying Armstrong Williams there with his ugly token ass. This pastor Scott is just a liar and I don’t and cannot believe he has a church with people..

  19. Sad, this is suppose to be a Man of the Cloth. How are you going to help Chicago and your own city need help? Scott is a liar and a perpetrator. You are an embarrassment to New Spirit Revival, Cleveland Heights and to the City of Cleveland. I pray for your family and congregation.

  22. what is president kkk and vice president kkk going to do about their kkk members passing out hate filled flyers

  23. I’m glad I’m not the only one that thinks Darrell Scott is a jack leg preacher why would Chicago gang member come to a Cleveland preacher and say that they going to change why not go to a Chicago preacher or a man that they really respect like Farrakhan, and he really have people taking up for him in that church and now you calling people names God is not pleased with you scott you can look at him and tell something is not right with him wonder what #45 offered him to be a turncoat smh more will be revealed.

  25. Trump is gonna “solve the problem” by trying to take Chicago?
    Another maniac tried the same thing and failed miserably.
    Little place on a big river, known as Stalingrad. Perhaps some of you have heard of it.

    What was originally Fort Dearborn might just become Fort Sumter 2.0…
    Could he really be that nuts?

    Nobody wants Agent Orange to even visit Chicago.
    They’ would have to raise all the bridges on the river so his ego could pass beneath them.

    Chuckles the Clown

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