In a scathing attack, President Joe Biden slammed Donald Trump’s record on racism, suggesting that the former president would have responded differently to the January 6, 2021, insurrection if the rioters were Black.
Speaking at an NAACP dinner in Detroit, Biden asked the audience, “What do you think he would have done on January 6 if Black Americans had stormed the Capitol?” The crowd gasped, and Biden emphasized, “I’m serious. What do you think? I can only imagine.”
Biden’s remarks highlighted Trump’s inaction during the Capitol attack, where a mostly white crowd attempted to overturn the election results.
Biden Confronts Trump’s Racism: ‘How Would You Have Handled a Black-Led Insurrection?
Trump remained at the White House for hours, taking no action, even as the mob threatened to hang his vice president, Mike Pence. In contrast, Biden has consistently condemned the attack and praised the bravery of law enforcement.
The president’s speech was a clear attempt to energize African American voters ahead of the November election. He touted his own record, including appointing the first Black female Supreme Court justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and warned that Trump poses a greater threat in a second term.
Biden also accused Republicans of banning books and undermining African American history, stating, “Black history is American history.”
The audience responded enthusiastically, cheering when Biden proclaimed himself a “union guy” and highlighted his support for workers’ rights. Other speakers included Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a potential presidential candidate in 2028.
The event underscored the intensifying battle between Biden and Trump for African American voters, with Biden seeking to energize his base and Trump attempting to erode Biden’s support.
