Appearing on stage at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., Jones acknowledged it was odd to see a Democrat at the RNC before airing his grievances with his party.

“The Democratic Party does not want Black people to leave their mental plantation,” Jones said. “We are free people with free minds.”

Jones went on to accuse Democrats of “pandering” to the Black community, while not advancing causes or legislation that benefit communities of color. He contrasted his complaints with his own party with actions the Trump administration has taken, including signing a bill to restore funding to the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities, building the most “inclusive economy” and “working every day to make our communities safer.”

“On issue after issue he destroyed these negative forces that have afflicted the Black community for decades,” he said.