Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is regretting remarks he made when he told black voters if they can’t choose between supporting him or President Donald Trump in the upcoming election then “you ain’t black.”
During an interview with radio host Charlamagne Tha God on the show “The Breakfast Club,” Biden sparked controversy when he said, “If you have a problem figuring out whether me or Trump, then you ain’t black,” as IJR reported.
Walking back those remarks, the former vice president said during a phone call with black business leaders, “I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy. I shouldn’t have been so cavalier.”
He continued:
“I don’t take it for granted at all and no one should have to vote for any party based on their race, religion or background. There are African Americans who think Trump is worth voting for. I don’t think so and I’m prepared to put my record against his, that was the bottom line and it was really unfortunate, I shouldn’t have been so cavalier.”
In case you missed it:
Somebody needs to tell Joe Biden that this comment to Charlamagne was a mistake.
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) May 22, 2020
Yes, Biden is a much better choice for black people than racist Trump.
But white people don’t get to tell black people what is black.
Biden still has to EARN our vote.https://t.co/TPEV5ZpEYi
The Trump campaign quickly responded to Biden’s remarks on Friday, saying, “It is clear now more than ever, following these racist and dehumanizing remarks, that Joe Biden believes black men and women are incapable of being independent or free thinking.”
Additionally, the Trump campaign is planning to launch a $1 million digital ad blitz focused on Biden’s remarks from the radio show segment.
Biden’s senior advisor Symone Sanders pushed back against the criticism of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee’s comments.
“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,” Sanders tweeted on Friday.
The radio host also responded as he told Mediaite, “As Biden said in our brief interview when I asked him if Dems owe the black community ABSOLUTELY was his answer. So let’s see what you got!!!”