Trump Asks Steve Harvey To Help Chicago & Other 'Inner Cities'

By Rachel Cromidas in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 13, 2017 10:59PM

Comedian and television personality Steve Harvey met with President-elect Donald Trump Friday, and apparently the pair discussed ways Trump would like Harvey to help his administration aid Chicago, Detroit, and other so-called inner cities.

“We’re gonna team up and see if we can bring about some positive change in the inner cities, which I felt was my only agenda,” Harvey told reporters.

He also said Trump and Obama's "transition teams" both asked him to take the meeting.

"it’s just me following orders from my friend President Obama who said ‘Steve, you’ve got to’ — as he told everybody — ‘get out from behind your computers, stop tweeting and texting and get out there and sit down and talk. So I stepped from behind my microphone and I came and talked to the guy that’s going to be the 45th president of the United States. I did what I was supposed to do.”

“It’s an honor to be invited to talk," he added, "and I think that’s the only way that we’re going to unify our country. We’ve got to talk.”

The pair met at Trump Tower In New York City on Friday, and after the meeting Trump asked reporters at the tower, "Everyone having fun? Steve just came up to say hello.”

Harvey, who endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, also spoke with Ben Carson, whom Trump has tapped for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Chicago is "definitely one" of the cities Harvey would like to address with Carson and Trump, the TV personality told reporters, noting that he is already working on this issue with a youth mentoring progrm. "Another one that they want to start with as a target is Detroit. Ben Carson expressed that because quite naturally he’s from Detroit. I want to do some things from all of the major inner cities to see if we can bring about some change and help some of these young people out. So that’s why I'm here, and it was a successful meeting and he seemed really sincere."

Harvey joked with reporters that he would like to see the Trumps on Family Feud, perhaps against the Obamas or the Clintons. "If I could set it up it would be skyrocketing for the ratings," he said.

Harvey and Trump also laughed and talked about golf, TV shows, and people they known in common, Harvey said. Harvey also met one of Trump's daughters, but he did not specify which one.

"I’m not a politician," Harvey said when asked to comment on the appointment of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General. "I’m hoping that these people can straighten it all out. I want to just get in there and just do my share. I had a good conversation in there, so moving forward, it ought to be good."