President Joe Biden was shown around by Angolan President João Lourenço during an arrival ceremony at the presidential palace in Luanda on Tuesday during his administration’s first and only trip to Africa.
Lourenço made sure the 82-year-old didn’t stumble as the two leaders took the stage to have their pictures taken.
Biden arrived in Angola on Monday evening, but his first official duties began on Tuesday with the arrival ceremony and then a bilateral meeting with Lourenço.
“Welcome to America,” Biden joked as he was flooded with questions from American journalists after the leaders wrapped up their opening remarks.
Reporters had raised questions about Biden’s controversial pardon of his son Hunter and whether he expected President-elect Donald Trump to continue investing in Africa.
Biden’s most significant public engagement was a speech outside the National Slavery Museum.
“I just got off the phone with the vice president and told her I’m sorry she’s not with me because I’m here today,” he said of Vice President Kamala Harris, who would be busy setting up of her government once the November elections were over. other way.
“You know, with you and Angola – a vibrant city,” Biden said, before correcting himself. ‘Look, not the city, the city I know is not Angola – in Angola in a lively city.’
President Joe Biden (left) is led to a podium by Angolan President João Lourenço (during) during an arrival ceremony Tuesday at the presidential palace in Luanda
Although the president seemed optimistic, he noted to the crowd that they were “gathered in a solemn location.”
He spoke of the original ‘friendship’ between Angola and the United States.
‘We hear them in the wind and the waves – young women, young men, born free in the highlands of Angola, only to be captured, bound and forced on a death march along this coast, to this place, by slavers in the year 1619,” Biden said.
He noted that “a third of those souls did not survive the journey.”
Christianity and new names were forced on the first African slaves.
Two were named Anthony and Isabella and their son was William Tucker – considered the first African American born in what is now the United States.
Three of Tucker’s descendants sat in the front row during the president’s speech.
President Joe Biden will deliver a speech Tuesday in front of the National Slavery Museum in Morro da Cruz, Angola. The rainy day gave way to a rainbow
Three descendants of William Tucker, the first African-American slave born in what is now the United States, attended Biden’s remarks. Wanda Tucker (center) is faculty chair of psychology, philosophy and religious studies at Rio Salado College and met with Biden on Monday
Biden called slavery “our nation’s original sin.”
“One that has haunted America and has cast a long shadow ever since,” he continued. ‘From the bloody civil war that almost tore my country apart to the long struggle with Jim Crow in the 1960s.’
The 82-year-old reminded the audience that the civil rights movement sparked the current president’s interest in politics.
“To the still-unfinished reckoning on racial injustice in my country today,” Biden said.
“We are going to correct history, not erase it,” the president promised.
Conservatives have criticized the teachings of “critical race theory,” which argues that racism is systemic in the United States. That has drawn attention to the way the history of slavery and race relations is taught in public schools.
Before concluding his remarks, Biden drew attention to the Lobito Corridor rail project he was in Angola to promote.
“I have to tell you up front that, with the American press here, I’m probably the most pro-rail guy in America,” “Amtrak Joe” revealed.
President Joe Biden called slavery “our nation’s original sin” as he addressed a crowd outside Angola’s National Slavery Museum in Morro da Cruz on Tuesday afternoon during his first and only trip to Africa.
“Ladies and gentlemen, as you know, I am in the final weeks of my presidency,” Biden said. “You don’t have to clap for that,” he said, laughing. He is photographed leaving the stage after concluding his speech at the National Slavery Museum on Tuesday
He also highlighted that US airlines are adding flights to Angola.
“So you don’t have to fly to Paris to come here — although Paris is quite nice,” Biden said.
President-elect Donald Trump announced Monday evening that he would fly to Paris this weekend for a reopening ceremony of the Notre Dame Cathedral — an event Biden is expected to skip.
The president also did not take into account the little time he had left in office, with Trump set to take back power on January 20.
“Ladies and gentlemen, as you know, I am in the final weeks of my presidency,” Biden said. “You don’t have to clap for that,” he said, laughing.
“You can do that if you want,” the president added. ‘But I wanted to come to Angola.’