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By John McWhorter

Opinion Writer

Rumors have long circulated that Donald Trump used the N-word while taping “The Apprentice.” Last week one of the show’s producers, his nondisclosure agreement having expired, recounted one instance in extensive detail. His account seems highly credible and is rather nauseating. The hunt is once again on to find the audio.

We have concrete evidence of Franklin Roosevelt using the N-word in marginalia before his presidency; Harry Truman used the word freely in his letters to his wife. There are a lot of anecdotes of Lyndon Johnson using the word. As for Mr. Trump, he has denied that the N-word was even in his vocabulary. A recording, should one ever emerge, would reveal that as one more of his lies.

But it wouldn’t actually change anything. Nor does the recent round of details. For one thing, we have already heard Mr. Trump say a great many racially dismissive things — about Mexican rapists and immigrants from “shithole countries,” among others. This word burns, but so do all the others. For another, polling has already suggested that even video evidence would have little impact on Trump’s chances of being elected. His acolytes have stayed loyal through his vulgar comments about women, his impeachments and........

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