Biden slams Trump over "Black jobs" comment at NAACP convention
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
President Biden speaks during the 115th NAACP National Convention in in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 16, 2024. Photo: Kent Nishimura / AFP via Getty Images
President Biden forcefully went after former President Trump's policy and rhetoric Tuesday at his first campaign appearance since the attempted assassination of his opponent.
Why it matters: Speaking at the 115th NAACP national convention in the key swing state of Nevada, Biden addressed Black voters as part of a wider campaign strategy to shore up support among the crucial voting bloc while drawing a sharp contrast between his policies and those of the official GOP nominee.
Driving the news: Throughout an impassioned speech, he slammed Trump's attacks on Obamacare, his handling of the pandemic, tax policy, birther conspiracy theories and his reference to "Black jobs" at last month's debate.
- "Folks, I know what a Black job is — it's the vice president of the United States," Biden said.
- He later added, "She [VP Harris] could be president of the United States," a statement that was met with chants of "Four more years!"
Zoom out: The president condemned the attack on the former president as he has several times, saying politics "has gotten too heated." But he added: "Now, just because we must lower the temperature in our politics...it doesn't mean we should stop telling the truth."
- Biden drew connections between the attack in Pennsylvania to moments of violence nationwide, pointing to the police killing of George Floyd, the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, threats against election workers and mass shootings.
- "There's Uvalde every day in the communities across the country," he said. "If you're going to be outspoken on one [moment of violence], don't be silent about others."
Biden touted his administration's newly unveiled proposal to curb landlords' ability to raise rents by more than 5%, along with investments in HBCUs and student debt relief.
- He said a second Trump administration would "undo everything the NAACP stands for."
- "But now they're trying to deny it; they're lying about their Project 2025," he said. "They want to deny your freedom, the freedom to vote, have your vote counted."
State of play: The Biden-Harris campaign has made an effort to connect with minority voters in their communities and has appealed to minority-owned businesses when touting the administration's economic record.
Biden won over Black voters 92%–8% in the 2020 race compared to his rival, but polling suggests Biden could have less of an edge in November's rematch.
- A May New York Times/Sienna survey put his support at 69%–18% against Trump with Black voters during this election.
- Expected voter turnout from Black voters in November is lower than in the previous election, according to Washington Post-Ipsos polling.
Yes, but: 70% of Black voters reported a somewhat or very unfavorable view of Trump, according to a July AP analysis of two AP-NORC polls.
Between the lines: While Biden attempts to bolster support among Black voters, the Congressional Black Caucus has emerged as a group of his strongest supporters while attempting to shield his campaign amid calls from other Democratic lawmakers for him to step aside.
