Biden sparks backlash as he says Kamala Harris ‘could be president of the United States’ in NAACP speech

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: On Tuesday, July 17, President Joe Biden addressed the annual NAACP convention, making eyebrow-raising remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris.

"She’s not only a great vice president, she could be president of the United States," Biden stated, suggesting Harris is well-positioned to succeed him if he decides to retire.

At 81, Biden has faced calls from several fellow Democrats to step aside ahead of the November 5 election.

However, he gave no indication of stepping down, instead outlining his plans for the first 100 days of a potential second term, which include signing voting-rights legislation "come hell or high water."

Joe Biden criticizes Donald Trump's impact on black America

Joe Biden's speech was filled with sharp attacks on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Despite his recent call for Americans to "lower the temperature" of the campaign, Biden did not hold back. "Donald Trump’s presidency was hell for black America," he exclaimed, reflecting on the impact of Trump's term.

He criticized Trump for his handling of the National Guard during the 2020 protests following George Floyd's murder, questioning, "What the hell’s the matter with this man?" Biden also accused Trump of "lying like hell" about their respective records on black unemployment.

Ridiculing Trump’s emphasis on "black jobs," Biden remarked, "I love this phrase, ‘black jobs,' tells us a lot about the man and about his character."

He added, “Folks, I know what a black job is. It’s the vice president of the United States. I know what a black job is: the first black president in American history, Barack Obama.”

The POTUS warned that Republicans would "undo everything the NAACP stands for," emphasizing the high stakes of the upcoming election.

Biden's appeal to black voters, a crucial demographic for the Democratic Party, comes as early data suggests some shifts away from him.

A Pew Research study found that while black voters remain overwhelmingly Democratic and continue to support Biden over Trump by a wide margin, Biden's advantage has shrunk by 16 percentage points since the 2020 election.

In April, 77% of black voters indicated they would vote for or lean toward Biden, compared to 92% in 2020.

Biden's support among black voters is also lower than the support for Hillary Clinton in 2016. A Washington Post/Ipsos survey from last month reported a 7 percentage point drop in Biden's support among black voters since 2022, with some positive news for Trump as well.

The survey found that 77% of black Americans agree Trump is biased against black people, a 10-point drop from 2020.

Additionally, Biden's approval rating among black adults has decreased from 94% at the beginning of his term to 55% in March, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll.

The NAACP conference is part of Biden's broader summer-long outreach to black voters. Earlier this year, he delivered a commencement address at Morehouse College and campaigned in key battleground states like Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Biden also planned to participate in an interview with BET on Tuesday. During his speech at the NAACP convention, he highlighted his administration's diversity, noting his selection of Harris and his appointment of the first black woman to the US Supreme Court.

"I promised myself and I promised America that my administration would look like America," Biden told the crowd. "I'm proud that we have the most diverse administration in all history that taps into the full talents of the nation."

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris trolled on social media

Joe Biden's remarks about Kamala Harris potentially becoming president were met with quite a backlash on social media.

"God help us all if that ever happens. Things are bad enough already," one posted on X.

"Sorry, what exactly makes her 'great'? Senile clown," another wrote.

"While he was pandering to these black people did he remind them what Kamala had done to so many black men?" someone else asked.

"Not going to happen. She's a horrible person. Her staff can't even stand her. They have quit over and over because she blames everything and everyone for her incompetence. Never takes accountability," a comment read.

"I’m convinced they’re gonna remove Biden one way or another," another offered.

Within the Democratic Party, there are ongoing discussions about Biden's future. Some Democrats plan to nominate Biden virtually as early as this month, ahead of the August 19-22 Democratic convention.

However, dissenters within the party are expected to push Biden to step down, especially after his poor performance in the June 27 debate.

So far, 20 House Democrats and one Democratic senator have expressed concerns about Biden's cognitive fitness and urged him to reconsider his candidacy, the New York Post reported.

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