Biden Apologizes For “They Ain’t Black” Comment: “I Shouldn’t Have Been Such A Wise Guy”
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee made the comment during an interview with Charlamagne Tha God.
A clip of Joe Biden addressing Black people who are unsure if they’re for him or Donald Trump has surfaced on social media.
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The comment came up during an interview he was doing with Charlamagne Tha God on The Breakfast Club, where the pair also spoke about if he is considering any Black women as his vice presidential running mate following news that he asked Amy Klobuchar to undergo vetting for the position.
“I’m not acknowledging anybody who is being considered, but I guarantee you, there are multiple black women being considered. Multiple,” he said of the topic.
Following the response, an aide for Biden can be heard interjecting and saying, “Thank you so much. That’s really our time. I apologize,” to which Charlamagne replied with, “You can’t do that to black media!”
“I do that to white media and black media because my wife has to go on at 6 o’clock,” Biden responded as the interview nears its end.
From there, Charlamagne tells Biden that he’s got to visit The Breakfast Club when he’s in New York, before adding “It’s a long way until November. We’ve got more questions.”
“You’ve got more questions?” Biden replied. “Well I tell you what, if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.”
The radio host then explained that “it don’t have nothing to do with Trump, it has to do with the fact [that] I want something for my community.”
“Take a look at my record, man! I extended the Voting Rights [Act] 25 years. I have a record that is second-to-none,” Biden said. “The NAACP’s endorsed me every time I’ve run. I mean, come on. Take a look at the record.”
Since the clip has surfaced online, a number of people have reacted to it, including Eric Trump and the official Twitter account for the Trump campaign, as well as Black Republican politicians like Tim Scott.
😳
Joe Biden: "If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't Black." pic.twitter.com/15Rr7YPSaX— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) May 22, 2020
"I will not be told who I'm gonna vote on because of my color" – @KanyeWest@JoeBiden's #YouAintBlack comments are disgusting! pic.twitter.com/31Vy4LN6YS
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) May 22, 2020
1.3 million black Americans already voted for Trump in 2016. This morning, Joe Biden told every single one of us we “ain’t black.” I’d say I’m surprised, but it’s sadly par for the course for Democrats to take the black community for granted and brow beat those that don’t agree.
— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) May 22, 2020
Symone D. Sanders, a senior adviser on Biden’s campaign, has since addressed Biden’s comment on Twitter, writing: “The comments made at the end of the Breakfast Club interview were in jest, but let’s be clear about what the VP was saying: he was making the distinction that he would put his record with the African American community up against Trump’s any day. Period.”
The comments made at the end of the Breakfast Club interview were in jest, but let’s be clear about what the VP was saying: he was making the distinction that he would put his record with the African American community up against Trump’s any day. Period.
— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) May 22, 2020
Biden himself has also apologized for the comment, according to CBS News political correspondent Ed O’Keefe. He addressed his remarks during a call with Black business leaders, saying: “I should not have been so cavalier. I’ve never, never, ever taken the African American community for granted.”
JUST IN: In a call with Black business leaders, @JoeBiden apologizes for his AM comments to @cthagod: "
“I should not have been so cavalier. I've never, never, ever taken the African American community for granted." (more)— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) May 22, 2020
He also added later in the call that he “shouldn’t have been such a wise guy,” and that “No one should have to vote for any party based on their race, their religion, their background.”
MORE: "I shouldn't have been such a wise guy," @JoeBiden said later in the call with the @usblackchambers "I shouldn't have been so cavalier. … No one should have to vote for any party based on their race, their religion, their background."
— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) May 22, 2020
