According to his statements at a rally for President Trump, Scott aspired as a child to be a drug dealer and pimp; Scott sold drugs, used cocaine, stole automobiles and took his fathers 9mm pistol to school at age 16 and was expelled for it. While in his 20s, Scott became a born again Christian after being inspired by his wife who was born again months earlier, after a neighbor had urged her to attend church. In 2004, Scott received an honorary doctorate from St. Thomas Christian College, a school without accreditation from the Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Career
Scott is the founder and pastor of New Spirit Revival Center, in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Scott's non-denominational church operates out of a former Jewish Synagogue built in 1924, a 115k square foot facility, that has a daycare, banquet hall and radio station, with 3,500 members as of 2005. The radio station broadcasts under call sign WCCD – branded Radio 1000. WCCD
Scott met Donald Trump in 2011 after being invited to Trump Tower, when Trump was considering a run for president. After Trump announced his candidacy, Scott was one of the first African-American pastors to support Trump and a key figure in leading other African-American pastors to attend meetings at Trump Tower. In 2016, Scott and Donald Trump's personal attorney and campaign spokesperson Michael D. Cohen co-founded National Diversity Coalition for Trump, that began operations in April, 2016. The group's advisory board has leaders from American-Muslims for Trump, African-American Pastors for Trump, and Korean-Americans for Trump. Scott introduced Trump at a rally at Cleveland I-X Center before the Ohio Republican primary and later hosted Trump at his church with a large group of pastors in attendance, the event aired on Fox NewsHannity show. In July, 2016, on the third day of the Republican National Convention, Scott was a keynote speaker in support of Donald Trump's nomination for the Republican Party, Scott stated in his speech that the "Democrat party has failed us".
Post election
After the election, Scott gave an interview to National Public Radio and described the Democratic Party as "pimps" who "pimped out the inner city" like a "pimp stands next to a prostitute". On November 30, 2016, President Trump selected Scott to be part of his executive transition team in which Scott publicly thanked Trump on Twitter, that resulted in a backlash on social media, Scott was called an Uncle Tom and was accused of taking money in exchange for his support of President Donald Trump. In January 2017, CNN's Marc Lamont Hill characterized Scott and other members of Trump's diversity team as "mediocre Negroes" during a Don LemonCNN Tonight segment. On February 1, 2017, President Donald Trump responded with enthusiasm during a White HouseBlack History Month event, to Scott's suggestion that gang leaders in Chicago wanted to meet to help reduce gun violence. On April 18, 2017, Scott hosted a meeting at the Washington hotel with six Chicago residents that hope to start a community service called "Stronger Together", to rehabilitate housing and start new technical high schools teaching skills such as producing rap music. On August 1, 2018, Scott said during a White House gathering of faith leaders that he thinks President Trump will be “the most pro-black president” in his lifetime.
Television appearances
Scott has appeared as a commentator on networks Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN.
Issues and controversies
On February 2, 2017, Scott said he had "misspoke" at the White House due to lack of sleep, when he stated Chicago's "top gang thugs" would "lower the body count" if new federal programs were provided. On March 3, 2017, WEWS-TV Channel 5 Cleveland reported Scott was being sued for back rent on a home, Scott referred to the claim as "fake". Courthouse News Service reported the breach is of a formal land contract and not a lease option.
