Sign in

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders slammed as ‘racist’ for letting Black cheerleaders stand in rain

Sarah Huckabee Sanders was in Little Rock to welcome the National Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission Conference, which promotes equality and nonviolence.

Published on: Sep 8, 2025, 20:08:53 IST
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
Copy link
  • copy link

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who earlier served as the press secretary for Donald Trump, faced major backlash on the internet after a video of her at the National Martin Luther King, Jr Commission Conference in Little Rock went viral. In the clip shared on the Governor’s Facebook page, she can be seen delivering her speech under a tent, while a group of young Black cheerleaders stood behind her in the rain. The event was held on August 27.

Screengrab from the viral video. (X/@Phrozensolid06)
Screengrab from the viral video. (X/@Phrozensolid06)

Sarah Huckabee Sanders in Little Rock

The National Martin Luther King, Jr Commission Conference aims to promote nonviolence and equality through the life and legacy of the civil rights activist, per Arkansas.gov. As a guest, Sanders attended the event in Little Rock to promote “positive leadership” and King’s principles.

In the video, Sanders began her speech saying, “Can we give a big round of applause to this group behind us, who’s doing an amazing job and doing it in the rain?”

Also Read: Indian woman caught shoplifting at Target store in US, cops' bodycam footage viral

“You guys grab your seats. I promise I’ll be fast, hopefully, so we can get them out of the rain and dry off,” she added, while showing concern for the cheerleaders standing in the rain.

Internet slams Sarah Huckabee Sanders

While the 47th governor of Arkansas is believed to have addressed the event for less than eight minutes, several social media users criticized Sanders on X, formerly Twitter.

Also Read: Did Trump and Ivanka's daughter Arabella exchange heated moment in US Open? Viral video sparks massive buzz

“Cold. Wet. Forgotten. That’s Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ Arkansas. She’ll leave our kids standing in the rain,” one user commented.

Another person branded the treatment of the cheerleaders as “racist”.

As some of the cheerleaders had difficulty standing in the rain, one X user said Sanders, who is the first female governor of Arkansas, “has officially broken cheerleading”.

FAQs:

Who is Sarah Huckabee Sanders?

Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the current and 47th governor of Arkansas. She is a former press secretary for President Donald Trump.

What is the National Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission Conference about?

It seeks to promote the principles of Martin Luther King, Jr., including nonviolence and equality.

Who is the youngest governor in the US?

Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the youngest governor in the US.

  • HT US Desk
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    HT US Desk

    The Hindustan Times US Desk brings you the latest news and developments from across the United States. The team covers everything from breaking news and politics to sports, business, entertainment and stories that are trending across the country. Our coverage includes the White House, Congress, US elections, immigration and visa updates, H-1B, green cards, Social Security, education, jobs, layoffs, the economy, technology and major policy changes. We also closely follow stories that matter to Indian and South Asian communities in the US. The desk covers major US sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, along with player news, injuries, schedules, results and major events. Entertainment coverage includes Hollywood, celebrities, television, streaming, music and pop culture. We also report on breaking developments, major incidents, weather, public safety, court cases and other stories making headlines across the country. When a major policy or news development affects people's everyday lives, the team works to explain what happened, what it means and what readers need to know. Alongside breaking news, the US Desk produces explainers and practical stories on topics such as immigration, Social Security, taxes, education, employment and government programmes. The team also works on science, tech, business and AI stories analyzing the impact they may have on people. The team follows developments throughout the day, keeping an eye on official announcements, public records, reliable news sources and what people are talking about across the US.Read More