President Joe Biden has come under fire from critics after he denounced white supremacy as the “most dangerous terrorist threat” to the United States during a graduation speech on Saturday.
He linked it to the Jan. 6 assault on the United States Capitol building during his speech to students at Howard University.
“Rise up against the poison. White supremacy…is the most dangerous terrorist threat in our homeland,” he said.
“And I’m not saying that just because I’m in a Black HBCU. I say it everywhere I go.
Critics quickly took to social media to accuse him of using race for political gain.
“There are those who demonize and pit people against each other,” President Joe Biden said in remarks that chastised Donald Trump’s election-cancellation effort.
Critics condemned Biden for saying white supremacy was the biggest terrorist threat
“The Democratic Party spent most of the 19th century and much of the 20th using overt racism to win elections,” wrote Jon Miltimore, conservative commentator and editor of the Foundation for Economic Education.
“They start again in the 21st century. Racism is simply very different from the 19th century version.
The flames were fanned by the Republican National Committee Twitter account that shared Biden’s clip.
OutKick.com’s Clay Travis tweeted, “I mean, that’s fucking bonkers.” Did anyone talk like that in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s or even 2010s? Of course not.
“Yet all of a sudden white supremacy is the GREATEST THREAT in America?” I don’t even think it’s one of the 50 greatest threats.
The comments came after Biden invoked Jan. 6 in the speech, calling efforts ‘immoral’ to cling to power in what was a clear blow to former President Donald’s election-cancellation effort. Trump.
He also brought up Vice President Kamala Harris, a Howard graduate, and touted his nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson. Both are the first women to hold their position.
“By the way, she’s brighter than the rest,” Biden said, weeks after announcing his re-election campaign at 80.
Biden returned to “soul of the nation” themes as he addressed HBCU students, joined by his powerful political backer, Rep. James C. Clyburn (DS.C.).
“I see you leading and I’m not exaggerating, again – you’re going to lead it,” he told graduate students.
Students gathered in Washington to hear Biden in DC’s Capital One Arena for the start of Howard University
“Again, let’s be clear. For those who don’t see, don’t want this feature. There are those who demonize and pit people against each other. There are those who would do anything, however desperate or immoral, to retain power,” he said.
“It will never be an easy battle. But I know this: the oldest and most sinister forces, they believe they will determine America’s future. But they are wrong. We will determine America’s future. America You will determine the future of America.
He spoke as Special Counsel Jack Smith continues to investigate the election-cancellation effort, while polls show a narrow gap between Biden and Trump, the GOP’s top presidential candidate.
Biden also touched on January 6 and the battle for democracy.
‘January 2021 – I stood at the United States Capitol to be inaugurated as President of the United States. A few days earlier, in this very place, a violent insurrection had taken place. A dagger in the throat, a democracy,” he called.
Biden called Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson ‘brighter than the rest’ and hailed his nomination
“For the first time in our history, an attempt to stop a peaceful transfer of power in this country. They failed. Our democracy held. Again, hope prevailed. And this time I stood with a black woman, about to take a two-mile procession down Pennsylvania Avenue as the President and Vice President of the United States of America, it was marching alongside her, the Howard University Marching Band in solidarity and in solidarity,’ he said.
“I’m not saying this because I’m in a black HBCU, I’m saying everywhere I go. You stand for truth over lies, lies told for power or profit. To deal with the ongoing assault to overthrow our elections, take away our right to vote,’ Biden said.
“The most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland is white supremacy,” Biden said.
Biden has received cheers calling for student debt relief, though his policy faces a court battle. He also called for the deletion of court records for those serving non-violent drug-related offenses.
He linked his cause to the civil rights struggle and march in Charlottesville which he says propelled his return to public service.
“But I know this: the oldest and most sinister forces they believe will determine the future of America. But they are wrong. We will determine America’s future, you will determine Americans who are not like verbally no grad class can choose a world in which they graduate.
He invoked Trump’s famous quote “good people on both sides.”
On student loans, he targeted the GOP, which he typically pursues as “MAGA Republicans.”
“This new Republican Party is all against it, suing my enrollment prevents you from getting student debt relief. The same opposition received relief loans, I might add, to keep their businesses afloat during the pandemic. Members of Congress worth thousands or even millions of dollars, most have not had to be reimbursed. Yet they say it’s good for them, but not for you.
“I find it outrageous,” he said.
The president contemplated fate towards the end of his own remarks, where he seemed to be channeling some of his own life choices as he begins a new chapter after decades in public life.
“You don’t know where or what fate will take you or when. You just have to continue. You just got to keep the faith, you just got to stand up. And if you can find the balance between ambition for happiness and success, that good life purpose and family, and as you know here at Howard, excellence leadership and truth service, there is no there is no renunciation in you. There is no giving up in America,” he said.
