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{{Short description|American political strategist (born 1982)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| image =
| image =
| residence = [[Arlington, Virginia]]
| residence = [[Arlington, Virginia]]
| birth_name = Paris Perrial Dennard
| name = Paris Dennard
| birth_date = {{b-da|August 18, 1982}}
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|August 18, 1982}}
| birth_place = {{nowrap|[[Phoenix, Arizona]], U.S.}}
| birth_place = {{nowrap|[[Phoenix, Arizona]], U.S.}}
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| education = [[Pepperdine University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| education = [[Pepperdine University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
}}
}}


'''Paris Perrial Dennard''' (born August 18, 1982) is an American conservative political speaker. He previously worked in the [[Executive Office of the President of the United States|Administration]] of President [[George W. Bush]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/2008/01/11/white-house-says-no-to-denzel-washington-great-debaters.html|title=White House Says 'No' to Denzel Washington's 'Great Debaters'|last=Friedman|first=Roger|date=11 January 2008|publisher=}}</ref> the Republican National Committee (RNC), and has appeared as a conservative [[pundit|commentator]] on many national outlets such as&nbsp;[[CNN]] and [[National Public Radio|NPR]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://diverseeducation.com/article/99913/|title=A Public But Controversial Spokesman for HBCUs|last=cmaadmin|first=|date=7 August 2017|publisher=}}</ref> and is the Senior Director of Strategic Communications for the [[Thurgood Marshall College Fund]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/10/trump-supporter-lands-role-with-hbcu-advocacy-group/504380/|title=The Unlikely Union Between a Trump Supporter and Historically Black Colleges|first=Emily|last=DeRuy|publisher=}}</ref>
'''Paris Dennard''' (born August 18, 1982) is an American conservative political commentator, columnist, and communications strategist. He previously worked from 2005 to 2009 in the [[Executive Office of the President of the United States|White House]] of President [[George W. Bush]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/2008/01/11/white-house-says-no-to-denzel-washington-great-debaters.html|title=White House Says 'No' to Denzel Washington's 'Great Debaters'|last=Friedman|first=Roger|website=[[Fox News]] |date=11 January 2008|publisher=}}</ref> and the [[Thurgood Marshall College Fund]] for over four years<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/10/trump-supporter-lands-role-with-hbcu-advocacy-group/504380/|title=The Unlikely Union Between a Trump Supporter and Historically Black Colleges|first=Emily|last=DeRuy|website=[[The Atlantic]] |date=October 17, 2016 |publisher=}}</ref> as the Senior Director of Strategic Communications. He has appeared as a conservative [[pundit|commentator]] on many national outlets including [[Fox News]], [[Black News Channel]], [[Newsmax]], [[CNN]] and [[National Public Radio|NPR]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://diverseeducation.com/article/99913/|title=A Public But Controversial Spokesman for HBCUs|last=cmaadmin|date=7 August 2017|publisher=}}</ref>


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
While attending [[Brophy College Preparatory]] in [[Phoenix, Arizona]], Dennard served as the chairman of the&nbsp;Arizona Teenage Republicans&nbsp;and spoke at the 2000&nbsp;[[Republican National Convention]]&nbsp;in&nbsp;[[Philadelphia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?158166-1/republican-national-convention-day-1-morning|title=Republican National Convention Day 1 Morning|website=C-SPAN.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref> After graduating from Brophy in 2000, Dennard attended [[Pepperdine University]] on a scholarship for students of color.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-22-me-pepper22-story.html|title=Pepperdine Defends Its Minority Scholarships|last=Silverstein|first=Stuart|work=Los Angeles Times|date=January 22, 2004|accessdate=February 18, 2020}}</ref><ref name="leaked ASU">{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2019/04/02/paris-dennard-former-mccain-institute-employee-wants-asu-settlement-alleged-sexual-harassment/3336598002/|title=Paris Dennard, conservative commentator, wants nearly $10M for 'leaked' ASU investigation|last=Leingang|first=Rachel|work=The Arizona Republic|date=April 2, 2019|accessdate=February 19, 2020}}</ref> He was featured with [[Sean Combs]] for an [[MTV]] special and interview at the 2004 Republican National Convention.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58211-2004Sep3.html|last=Gerhart|first=Ann|title=Citizen Diddy|date=September 3, 2004|page=C1|work=The Washington Post|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050922010509/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58211-2004Sep3.html|archivedate=September 22, 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref> Dennard graduated from Pepperdine in 2005 with a B.A. in political science and public relations.<ref>{{citation|url=https://pepperdine.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15730coll17/id/22913|title=Commencement Program, April 2005|publisher=Pepperdine University|date=2005|page=13|accessdate=February 18, 2020}}</ref>
While attending [[Brophy College Preparatory]] in [[Phoenix, Arizona]], Dennard served as Student Body President, the chairman of the&nbsp;Arizona Teenage Republicans&nbsp;and spoke at the 2000&nbsp;[[Republican National Convention]]&nbsp;in&nbsp;[[Philadelphia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?158166-1/republican-national-convention-day-1-morning|title=Republican National Convention Day 1 Morning|website=C-SPAN.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref> After graduating from Brophy in 2000, Dennard attended [[Pepperdine University]] on several scholarships including one for students of color.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-22-me-pepper22-story.html|title=Pepperdine Defends Its Minority Scholarships|last=Silverstein|first=Stuart|work=Los Angeles Times|date=January 22, 2004|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref><ref name="leaked ASU">{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2019/04/02/paris-dennard-former-mccain-institute-employee-wants-asu-settlement-alleged-sexual-harassment/3336598002/|title=Paris Dennard, conservative commentator, wants nearly $10M for 'leaked' ASU investigation|last=Leingang|first=Rachel|work=The Arizona Republic|date=April 2, 2019|access-date=February 19, 2020}}</ref> He was featured with [[Sean Combs]] for an [[MTV]] special and interview at the 2004 Republican National Convention.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58211-2004Sep3.html|last=Gerhart|first=Ann|title=Citizen Diddy|date=September 3, 2004|page=C1|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050922010509/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58211-2004Sep3.html|archive-date=September 22, 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref> Dennard graduated from Pepperdine in 2005 with a B.A. in political science and public relations.<ref>{{citation|url=https://pepperdine.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15730coll17/id/22913|title=Commencement Program, April 2005|publisher=Pepperdine University|date=2005|page=13|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref>


==Professional career==
==Professional career==
===White House staff===
===White House staff===
Between 2005 and 2009, Dennard worked for [[George W. Bush|U.S. President George W. Bush]], including at the [[Office of Legislative Affairs (United States Navy)|Office of Legislative Affairs]], the Office of Political Affairs, and the [[Office of Public Liaison]].&nbsp;During that time, he served as White House Director of Black Outreach; coordinated the meetings and travels of the President,&nbsp;[[First Lady]]&nbsp;[[Laura Bush]],&nbsp;and the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]];&nbsp;and planned various events in the White House. Between 2009 and 2011, Dennard worked at the&nbsp;[[Republican National Committee]]&nbsp;as an Associate Director for Coalitions.
Between 2005 and 2009, Dennard worked in [[George W. Bush]]'s [[White House]] at the [[Office of Legislative Affairs (United States Navy)|Office of Legislative Affairs]], the Office of Political Affairs, and the [[Office of Public Liaison]].&nbsp;During that time, he served as White House Director of Black Outreach; coordinated the meetings and travels of the President,&nbsp;[[First Lady]]&nbsp;[[Laura Bush]],&nbsp;and the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]];&nbsp;and planned various events in the White House. Between 2009 and 2011, Dennard worked at the&nbsp;[[Republican National Committee]]&nbsp;as an associate director for Coalitions.

In 2018, President Donald J. Trump appointed Dennard to serve as a commissioner on the President's Commission on White House Fellowships.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-key-additions-administration-22/|title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Key Additions to his Administration {{!}} The White House|work=The White House|access-date=2018-11-29|language=en-US}}</ref>


===Communications consulting===
===Communications consulting===
Dennard is also a consultant through his own firm on strategic communication, political management, image and brand development, and media training issues, and is the Senior Director of Strategic Communications for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://diverseeducation.com/article/99913/|title=A Public But Controversial Spokesman for HBCUs|last=cmaadmin|date=2017-08-07|work=Diverse|access-date=2018-11-29|language=en-US}}</ref>&nbsp;
Dennard is also a consultant through his own firm on strategic communication, political management, image and brand development, and media training issues.


===Political commentary and activism===
===Political commentary and activism===
Dennard is a member of the American Enterprise Institute's Leadership Network.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.aei.org/publication/convening-to-increase-opportunity-aei-leadership-summit/|title=Convening to increase opportunity: AEI hosts leadership summit - AEI|work=AEI|access-date=2018-11-29|language=en-US}}</ref> Dennard serves on the Advisory Board for Black Voices for Trump<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blackvoices.donaldjtrump.com/|title=Black Voices for Trump|website=blackvoices.donaldjtrump.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-23}}</ref> for the 2020 re-election campaign for Donald J. Trump.
Dennard is a member of the [[American Enterprise Institute]]'s Leadership Network.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.aei.org/publication/convening-to-increase-opportunity-aei-leadership-summit/|title=Convening to increase opportunity: AEI hosts leadership summit - AEI|work=AEI|access-date=2018-11-29|language=en-US}}</ref> Dennard served on the advisory board for "Black Voices for Trump"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blackvoices.donaldjtrump.com/|title=Black Voices for Trump|website=blackvoices.donaldjtrump.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-23}}</ref> for the 2020 re-election campaign for Donald Trump.

Dennard has been a political TV commentator on [[C-SPAN]], [[BBC]], [[One America News Network|OANN]], [[Newsmax TV]], [[The Hill (newspaper)#Hill TV|Hill TV]], [[KTOE]]'s "Al in the Afternoon", and [[TV One (American TV channel)|TV One]] where he was a regular on NewsOne Now with Roland S. Martin, [[BET]]'s State of the Union coverage, [[MSNBC]], and was a paid political commentator with [[CNN]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2018/08/20/cnns_paris_dennard_enrages_fmr_ciafbi_official_phil_mudd_everyone_in_dc_knows_security_clearance_.html|title=CNN's Paris Dennard Enrages Fmr CIA/FBI Official Phil Mudd: "Everyone In Washington DC Knows" Consultants Get Paid More With A Security Clearance|website=[[Real Clear Politics]]|date=August 20, 2018|access-date=November 29, 2018}}</ref> from 2016 to 2018 and [[NPR]]'s ''[[Here and Now (radio program)|Here and Now]]''. Dennard also writes opinion articles that have appeared in ''[[The Daily Caller]]'' and ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' on a host of topics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parisdennard.com/media-links/|title=Media — Paris Dennard|website=Paris Dennard|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref>

Dennard is known for his pro-[[Donald Trump]] commentary;<ref name=Concha>{{cite news|first=Joe|last=Concha|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/420787-pro-trump-pundit-paris-dennard-lashes-out-at-former-network-cnn-i-will-not-be|title=Pro-Trump pundit Paris Dennard lashes out at former network CNN: 'I will not be silenced'|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=December 11, 2018}}</ref> he frequently defended Trump and [[Trump administration|his administration]] in his CNN appearances.<ref name=Bump>{{cite news|first=Philip|last=Bump|authorlink=Philip Bump|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/05/11/biden-is-president-has-become-gops-base-pleasing-cop-out/|title='Biden is the president' has become the GOP's base-pleasing cop-out|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=May 11, 2021}}</ref> Trump praised Dennard during a White House [[Black History Month]] event<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?423342-1/president-trump-holds-african-american-history-month-listening-session|title=President Trump Holds African American History Month Listening Session|website=[[C-SPAN]]|language=en-US|date=February 1, 2017|access-date=November 29, 2018}}</ref> and a "Black Voices for Trump" event in [[Atlanta, Georgia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?466133-1/president-launches-black-voices-trump-initiative-atlanta|title=President Trump Remarks at "Black Voices for Trump" Rally|website=[[C-SPAN]]|language=en-us|date=November 9, 2019|access-date=February 23, 2020}}</ref> In 2018, Trump appointed Dennard to the President's Commission on [[White House Fellowship]]s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-key-additions-administration-22/|title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Key Additions to his Administration {{!}} The White House|access-date=2018-11-29|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

After Trump was defeated by Democratic challenger [[Joe Biden]], Dennard was hired as a national spokesman for the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]].<ref name=Bump/> As Trump promoted [[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|false claims of election fraud]], Dennard [[Election denial movement in the United States|refused to acknowledge]] the legitimacy of the results of the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]].<ref name=Bump/>

===Sexual harassment allegations===
Dennard was employed by the [[Arizona State University]]'s [[McCain Institute|McCain Institute for International Leadership]] from 2013 to 2015.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/81da1ce910df48ec8db3d1aa2caad145 Commentator seeks $10M from ASU after misconduct report], Associated Press (April 2, 2019).</ref> In 2018, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reported that, according to documents and a university official, Dennard had been fired in 2015 from his position as an events director at the institute for making sexually explicit comments and gestures toward women.<ref name="TheWashingtonPost">{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Aaron|title=Trump called this White House defender 'wonderful.' He was fired from his previous job for alleged sexual harassment.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/trump-calls-this-white-house-defender-wonderful-he-was-fired-from-his-previous-job-for-sexual-harassment/2018/08/22/1d15ba48-a59a-11e8-a656-943eefab5daf_story.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=August 22, 2018|access-date=August 22, 2018}}</ref> Dennard had "told a recent college graduate who worked for him that he wanted to have sex with her" and "pretended to unzip his pants in her presence, tried to get her to sit on his lap, and made masturbatory gestures."<ref name="TheWashingtonPost"/> A 2014 university report obtained by the ''Washington Post'' stated that Dennard did not dispute the claims, but said he made the remarks and gestures jokingly.<ref name="TheWashingtonPost"/> A second female employee also said that Dennard's actions made her uncomfortable.<ref name="TheWashingtonPost"/>

After the ''[[Washington Post]]'' report was published, [[CNN]] and [[Boston]] NPR member station [[WBUR-FM]] announced they had suspended Dennard with pay pending further investigation.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Barr|first=Jeremy|title=CNN Suspends Contributor Paris Dennard Following Sexual Misconduct Report|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cnn-suspends-contributor-paris-dennard-sexual-misconduct-report-1136903|magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=August 22, 2018|access-date=August 22, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=WBUR Responds To Misconduct Allegations Against Paris Dennard|url=http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/23/wbur-statement-paris-dennard|publisher=[[WBUR]]|date=August 23, 2018|access-date=August 23, 2018}}</ref> After Dennard's contract expired, CNN did not renew it.<ref name=Concha/>

In 2019, Dennard sued the Arizona State University for nearly $10 million, claiming that the university had intentionally leaked the report.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Leingang|first=Rachel|title=Paris Dennard, conservative commentator, wants nearly $10M for 'leaked' ASU investigation|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2019/04/02/paris-dennard-former-mccain-institute-employee-wants-asu-settlement-alleged-sexual-harassment/3336598002/|date=April 2, 2019|website=The Arizona Republic|language=en-US}}</ref>


=== Republican National Committee ===
Dennard has been a political TV commentator on C-SPAN, BBC, OANN, Newsmax TV, Hill TV, and TV One where he was a regular on NewsOne Now with Roland S. Martin, BET's State of the Union coverage, MSNBC, and was a paid political commentator with CNN<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2018/08/20/cnns_paris_dennard_enrages_fmr_ciafbi_official_phil_mudd_everyone_in_dc_knows_security_clearance_.html|title=CNN's Paris Dennard Enrages Fmr CIA/FBI Official Phil Mudd: "Everyone In Washington DC Knows" Consultants Get Paid More With A Security Clearance|website=www.realclearpolitics.com|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref> from 2016-2018 and NPR's Here and Now. Dennard also writes opinion articles that have appeared in the Daily Caller and The Hill on a host of topics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parisdennard.com/media-links/|title=Media — Paris Dennard|website=Paris Dennard|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref> On August 22, 2018, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reported that, according to documents and a university official, Dennard had been fired in 2015 from his position as an events director for [[Arizona State University]]'s [[McCain Institute|McCain Institute for International Leadership]] for allegedly making sexually explicit comments and gestures toward women. The Washington Post claims the report states that Dennard did not dispute those claims but said he committed the acts [[Off-color humor|jokingly]].<ref name="TheWashingtonPost">{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Aaron|title=Trump called this White House defender ‘wonderful.’ He was fired from his previous job for alleged sexual harassment.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/trump-calls-this-white-house-defender-wonderful-he-was-fired-from-his-previous-job-for-sexual-harassment/2018/08/22/1d15ba48-a59a-11e8-a656-943eefab5daf_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 22, 2018|accessdate=August 22, 2018}}</ref> Following the publication of the Washington Post's report, [[CNN]] and [[Boston]] NPR member station [[WBUR-FM]] announced they had suspended Dennard with pay pending further investigation.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Barr|first=Jeremy|title=CNN Suspends Contributor Paris Dennard Following Sexual Misconduct Report|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cnn-suspends-contributor-paris-dennard-sexual-misconduct-report-1136903|magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=August 22, 2018|accessdate=August 22, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=WBUR Responds To Misconduct Allegations Against Paris Dennard|url=http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/23/wbur-statement-paris-dennard|publisher=[[WBUR]]|date=August 23, 2018|accessdate=August 23, 2018}}</ref> President Trump publicly praised Dennard during his [[Black History Month]] listening session at the White House for his work as a political commentator,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?423342-1/president-trump-holds-african-american-history-month-listening-session|title=President Trump Holds African American History Month Listening Session|website=C-SPAN.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref> and singled him out several times in his remarks during the Black Voices for Trump<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?466133-1/president-launches-black-voices-trump-initiative-atlanta|title=President Trump Remarks at "Black Voices for Trump" Rally {{!}} C-SPAN.org|website=www.c-span.org|language=en-us|access-date=2020-02-23}}</ref> launch in Atlanta, GA.
In March 2020, Dennard was hired by the [[Republican National Committee]], subsequently working as a national spokesperson and as director of Black media affairs.<ref name="RNCPolitico">{{Cite web|last=Isenstadt|first=Alex|title=RNC fires national spokesperson|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/26/rnc-fires-national-spokesperson-00053978|date=August 26, 2020|website=Politico}}</ref> During the 2020 presidential campaign, he also served on the advisory board of [[Black Voices for Trump]].<ref name="RNCPolitico"/> The RNC fired Dennard in August 2022.<ref name="RNCPolitico"/>


== See also ==
==See also==
* [[Black conservatism in the United States]]
*[[White House Fellows]]


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American social commentators]]
[[Category:Pepperdine University alumni]]
[[Category:Pepperdine University alumni]]
[[Category:Television personalities from Phoenix, Arizona]]
[[Category:Television personalities from Phoenix, Arizona]]
[[Category:Arizona Republicans]]
[[Category:Arizona Republicans]]
[[Category:African-American politicians]]
[[Category:African-American government officials]]
[[Category:George W. Bush administration personnel]]
[[Category:George W. Bush administration personnel]]

Latest revision as of 06:54, 22 August 2024

Paris Dennard
Personal details
BornAugust 18, 1982 (1982-08-18) (age 42)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceArlington, Virginia
EducationPepperdine University (BA)

Paris Dennard (born August 18, 1982) is an American conservative political commentator, columnist, and communications strategist. He previously worked from 2005 to 2009 in the White House of President George W. Bush,[1] and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund for over four years[2] as the Senior Director of Strategic Communications. He has appeared as a conservative commentator on many national outlets including Fox News, Black News Channel, Newsmax, CNN and NPR.[3]

Early life and education

[edit]

While attending Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, Arizona, Dennard served as Student Body President, the chairman of the Arizona Teenage Republicans and spoke at the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia.[4] After graduating from Brophy in 2000, Dennard attended Pepperdine University on several scholarships including one for students of color.[5][6] He was featured with Sean Combs for an MTV special and interview at the 2004 Republican National Convention.[7] Dennard graduated from Pepperdine in 2005 with a B.A. in political science and public relations.[8]

Professional career

[edit]

White House staff

[edit]

Between 2005 and 2009, Dennard worked in George W. Bush's White House at the Office of Legislative Affairs, the Office of Political Affairs, and the Office of Public Liaison. During that time, he served as White House Director of Black Outreach; coordinated the meetings and travels of the President, First Lady Laura Bush, and the House of Representatives; and planned various events in the White House. Between 2009 and 2011, Dennard worked at the Republican National Committee as an associate director for Coalitions.

Communications consulting

[edit]

Dennard is also a consultant through his own firm on strategic communication, political management, image and brand development, and media training issues.

Political commentary and activism

[edit]

Dennard is a member of the American Enterprise Institute's Leadership Network.[9] Dennard served on the advisory board for "Black Voices for Trump"[10] for the 2020 re-election campaign for Donald Trump.

Dennard has been a political TV commentator on C-SPAN, BBC, OANN, Newsmax TV, Hill TV, KTOE's "Al in the Afternoon", and TV One where he was a regular on NewsOne Now with Roland S. Martin, BET's State of the Union coverage, MSNBC, and was a paid political commentator with CNN[11] from 2016 to 2018 and NPR's Here and Now. Dennard also writes opinion articles that have appeared in The Daily Caller and The Hill on a host of topics.[12]

Dennard is known for his pro-Donald Trump commentary;[13] he frequently defended Trump and his administration in his CNN appearances.[14] Trump praised Dennard during a White House Black History Month event[15] and a "Black Voices for Trump" event in Atlanta, Georgia.[16] In 2018, Trump appointed Dennard to the President's Commission on White House Fellowships.[17]

After Trump was defeated by Democratic challenger Joe Biden, Dennard was hired as a national spokesman for the Republican Party.[14] As Trump promoted false claims of election fraud, Dennard refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the results of the 2020 presidential election.[14]

Sexual harassment allegations

[edit]

Dennard was employed by the Arizona State University's McCain Institute for International Leadership from 2013 to 2015.[18] In 2018, The Washington Post reported that, according to documents and a university official, Dennard had been fired in 2015 from his position as an events director at the institute for making sexually explicit comments and gestures toward women.[19] Dennard had "told a recent college graduate who worked for him that he wanted to have sex with her" and "pretended to unzip his pants in her presence, tried to get her to sit on his lap, and made masturbatory gestures."[19] A 2014 university report obtained by the Washington Post stated that Dennard did not dispute the claims, but said he made the remarks and gestures jokingly.[19] A second female employee also said that Dennard's actions made her uncomfortable.[19]

After the Washington Post report was published, CNN and Boston NPR member station WBUR-FM announced they had suspended Dennard with pay pending further investigation.[20][21] After Dennard's contract expired, CNN did not renew it.[13]

In 2019, Dennard sued the Arizona State University for nearly $10 million, claiming that the university had intentionally leaked the report.[22]

Republican National Committee

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In March 2020, Dennard was hired by the Republican National Committee, subsequently working as a national spokesperson and as director of Black media affairs.[23] During the 2020 presidential campaign, he also served on the advisory board of Black Voices for Trump.[23] The RNC fired Dennard in August 2022.[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Friedman, Roger (January 11, 2008). "White House Says 'No' to Denzel Washington's 'Great Debaters'". Fox News.
  2. ^ DeRuy, Emily (October 17, 2016). "The Unlikely Union Between a Trump Supporter and Historically Black Colleges". The Atlantic.
  3. ^ cmaadmin (August 7, 2017). "A Public But Controversial Spokesman for HBCUs".
  4. ^ "Republican National Convention Day 1 Morning". C-SPAN.org. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  5. ^ Silverstein, Stuart (January 22, 2004). "Pepperdine Defends Its Minority Scholarships". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  6. ^ Leingang, Rachel (April 2, 2019). "Paris Dennard, conservative commentator, wants nearly $10M for 'leaked' ASU investigation". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  7. ^ Gerhart, Ann (September 3, 2004). "Citizen Diddy". The Washington Post. p. C1. Archived from the original on September 22, 2005.
  8. ^ Commencement Program, April 2005, Pepperdine University, 2005, p. 13, retrieved February 18, 2020
  9. ^ "Convening to increase opportunity: AEI hosts leadership summit - AEI". AEI. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  10. ^ "Black Voices for Trump". blackvoices.donaldjtrump.com. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  11. ^ "CNN's Paris Dennard Enrages Fmr CIA/FBI Official Phil Mudd: "Everyone In Washington DC Knows" Consultants Get Paid More With A Security Clearance". Real Clear Politics. August 20, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  12. ^ "Media — Paris Dennard". Paris Dennard. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  13. ^ a b Concha, Joe (December 11, 2018). "Pro-Trump pundit Paris Dennard lashes out at former network CNN: 'I will not be silenced'". The Hill.
  14. ^ a b c Bump, Philip (May 11, 2021). "'Biden is the president' has become the GOP's base-pleasing cop-out". The Washington Post.
  15. ^ "President Trump Holds African American History Month Listening Session". C-SPAN. February 1, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  16. ^ "President Trump Remarks at "Black Voices for Trump" Rally". C-SPAN. November 9, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  17. ^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Key Additions to his Administration | The White House". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved November 29, 2018 – via National Archives.
  18. ^ Commentator seeks $10M from ASU after misconduct report, Associated Press (April 2, 2019).
  19. ^ a b c d Davis, Aaron (August 22, 2018). "Trump called this White House defender 'wonderful.' He was fired from his previous job for alleged sexual harassment". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  20. ^ Barr, Jeremy (August 22, 2018). "CNN Suspends Contributor Paris Dennard Following Sexual Misconduct Report". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  21. ^ "WBUR Responds To Misconduct Allegations Against Paris Dennard". WBUR. August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  22. ^ Leingang, Rachel (April 2, 2019). "Paris Dennard, conservative commentator, wants nearly $10M for 'leaked' ASU investigation". The Arizona Republic.
  23. ^ a b c Isenstadt, Alex (August 26, 2020). "RNC fires national spokesperson". Politico.
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