In an interview that was released on Thursday, presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden said that “unlike the African American community, with notable exceptions, the Latino community is an incredibly diverse community, with incredibly different attitudes about different things … it’s a very diverse community.”
Biden was addressing the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) Joint Virtual Convention. Portions of the interview were aired Wednesday, and the full video was streamed Thursday, Breitbart reported.
Joe Biden’s remarks:
NEW: Biden draws distinction between diversity within Black and Latino communities, telling @NPR’s @lourdesgnavarro that “unlike the African-American community, with notable exceptions, the Latino community is an incredibly diverse community with incredibly different attitudes.." pic.twitter.com/ZbWmVZTFFL
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) August 6, 2020
President Trump took to Twitter Friday, declaring that Joe Biden “is no longer worthy of the Black Vote,” after the former vice president made comments contrasting African American and Latino diversity.
“After yesterday’s statement, Sleepy Joe Biden is no longer worthy of the Black Vote!” the Commander in Chief tweeted Friday morning.
On Thursday, the president also expressed: “Wow! Joe Biden just lost the entire African American community. What a ‘dumb’ thing to say!” Continued Below
President Trump’s official Friday tweet:
After yesterday’s statement, Sleepy Joe Biden is no longer worthy of the Black Vote!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2020
Biden, later Thursday night, attempted to walk back his comments on Twitter from the interview.
“Earlier today, I made some comments about diversity in the African American and Latino communities that I want to clarify,” Biden wrote. ”In no way did I mean to suggest the African American community is a monolith—not by identity, not on issues, not at all.
“Throughout my career,” he continued, “I’ve witnessed the diversity of thought, background, and sentiment within the African American community. It’s this diversity that makes our workplaces, communities, and country a better place. My commitment to you is this: I will always listen, I will never stop fighting for the African American community and I will never stop fighting for a more equitable future.” Continued Below
Also this week, in an interview with CBS News correspondent Errol Barnett, Biden was asked whether he has taken a cognitive test.
“No, I haven’t taken a test. Why the hell would I take a test? Come on, man. That’s like saying you, before you got on this program, you take a test where you’re taking cocaine or not. What do you think? Huh? Are you a junkie?” Biden told Barnett, who is Black.
BIDEN: "No, I haven't taken a test. Why the hell would I take a test? C'mon man. That's like saying you, before you got in this program, if you take a test where you're taking cocaine or not, what do you think huh? Are you a junkie?" pic.twitter.com/f6UMPJq381
— Trump War Room – Text TRUMP to 88022 (@TrumpWarRoom) August 5, 2020
Joe Biden, however, said in June that he was “constantly tested.”
“I’ve been tested. I’ve been constantly tested,” Biden claimed.
Joe Biden starts to call a reporter a “Lying Dog Faced Pony Soldier”, then is asked about his Cognitive Decline. pic.twitter.com/yNXEyrtYkc
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) June 30, 2020
In May, Biden said during a live-stream interview with radio show host Charlamagne Tha God from “The Breakfast Club”, “If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.”
BIDEN: "If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black."
What?
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) May 22, 2020
Biden eventually walked back the statement, saying: “I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy. I shouldn’t have been so cavalier and responded to what I thought was — I don’t take it for granted at all.”
(Related: Trump & His Campaign Respond After Biden Claims He’s The First Racist President To Be Elected)
