Donald Trump's visit to black church met by angry protesters

Donald Trump’s attempt to reach out to African American voters by visiting a black church was met by any protesters who said they did not believe the New York tycoon was genuine.

Several dozen protesters gathered outside the Great Faith Ministries International church in Detroit, where he spoke to the congregation and recorded a question-and-answer session with its minister. “I am here to listen to you,” Mr Trump told the enthusiastic congregation. “As I prepare to campaign all across the nation, I will have the chance to lay out my economic plans which will be so good for Detroit.”

The Republican candidate said he believed it was time for a “civil rights agenda of our time”.

“I want to help you build and rebuild Detroit,” he said. “I fully understand that the African American community has suffered from discrimination and there are many wrongs that should be made right.”

In recent weeks, Mr Trump has appeared to be reaching out to black voters, saying they have nothing to lose by voting for him and the the Democratic Party has long taken minority voters for granted. Polls show that Mr Trump has virtually no support among African American voters. Some political commentators have said they believe the true intention of the black outreach is to appeal to moderate white Republicans.

On Saturday, demonstrators held placards and shouted slogans as Mr Trump arrived. One of the protesters, Rosendo Delgado, 62, of Detroit, who said she is Latino, told the Detroit News that Mr Trump “shoots from the hip without analysing what he is saying”.