Unlike his usual campaign stops where he confidently addressed mostly white crowds that supported him and his plans for the country, Trump's visit was meant to be more intimate.

Among the members of the clergy denouncing Trump's visit was the Rev. Lawrence Glass, who said Trump's heart was not into helping blacks.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a church service at Great Faith Ministries, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Detroit.

Historically, for past fifty years, more than 90 percent of the African American voted for the Democrats, which would be Hillary Clinton this time.

Mr Trump has stepped up his attempts to appeal to minority voters in recent weeks as he tries to expand his appeal beyond his Republican base. It was the first Trump's visit and speech in front of a largely minority audience for the candidate who typically attracts overwhelmingly white crowds.

Trump has faced complaints of racial insensitivity, with his provocative anti-immigrant rhetoric, his false accusations that President Barack Obama was born outside the United States, and an aggressive America-first platform seen as catering to white voters.

"It put a spotlight on pandering", Riley said, "how little tolerance there must be for it from now on and how little respect we have for some black people that critics and politicians think they could be so easily swayed".

Eric Jones, 40, of Flint said he has been a Trump supporter since the start of the campaign. "I do get things done, I will tell you". Trump didn't focus on issues specific to African-Americans, saying instead he was there to listen to the community.

Denver LB Brandon Marshall takes a knee during anthem
The days leading up to the line-up of season openers had fans wondering if players would follow in Colin Kaepernick's footsteps. Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said he is supportive of Marshall's decision not to stand.

At the end of his remarks, Trump was given a Jewish prayer shawl by Jackson.

Opinion polls show Trump has low support among USA minorities. Carson told CNN's Jeremy Diamond he wanted Trump to see areas in the city that are now blighted but were prosperous when Carson was a boy.

Trump said that it was from black churches "all across this land that the civil rights movement lifted up its soul and lifted up our nation".

The New York Times obtained a leaked copy of the questions Jackson planned to ask and the responses Trump's aides had crafted for him.

Trump highlighted his support from Omarosa Manigualt (the former Apprentice contestant who is now the director of African-American Outreach for Trump) and former Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson (who Trump once called "pathological" and likened to a child molester).

Trump and Carson spoke briefly with Felicia Reese, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1992, according to the pool report.

His message was largely focused on unity and how to improve the economic situation of the black community in Detroit. Almost 40 percent of residents are impoverished, compared with about 15 percent of Americans overall. Trump's approach to grabbing the black vote has softened since last month.

James Mitchell, of Detroit, came to register voters outside of the event.