BET founder wants black Americans to give Trump a chance

BET founder Bob Johnson says black Americans should give Donald Trump a chance as president.

Johnson said he was invited to meet with the president-elect on Sunday at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, and that after their meeting he was optimistic about the country's future.

"It's my conclusion that we can find common ground with the Trump administration," Johnson told CNBC Monday. Johnson added that he and Trump talked about "business solutions to social problems" and that they "didn't get into the political stuff."

Referring to Trump's plea to black voters during the campaign, asking, "What do you have to lose?" Johnson said he told Trump that the real question is, "What do African-Americans have to gain from your presidency?"

"And he said, 'Bob, you're right. We should talk aspirational. I'm willing to talk about things you believe are important to African-Americans and I want to have that dialogue with you,'" Johnson said, adding:

I'm a Democrat and I say this with all due respect to the Democratic Party and I say it to the Republican Party. This country needs somebody who is going to lead it, not somebody who is going to force us to choose sides.

And if President-elect Trump believes that he should be talking about what black Americans have to gain. As President Obama said and as Hillary said, let's give him a shot, let's give him the benefit of the doubt, see if we can find common ground. I think that's the best interest of African Americans.