'Awful human being and race baiter': Biden slammed after asking NAACP crowd what Trump would have done if Jan 6 rioters were Black

Addressing a crowd of approximately 5,000 attendees, Joe Biden posed a provocative question that drew gasps from the audience
PUBLISHED MAY 20, 2024
President Joe Biden delivered a racially charged rebuke of Donald Trump, drawing criticism on social media (Getty Images)
President Joe Biden delivered a racially charged rebuke of Donald Trump, drawing criticism on social media (Getty Images)

DETROIT, MICHIGAN: At the annual NAACP Detroit Branch Freedom Fund dinner on Sunday night, May 19, President Joe Biden delivered a racially charged rebuke of former President Donald Trump, focusing on the events of January 6, 2021.

Addressing a crowd of approximately 5,000 attendees, Biden posed a provocative question that drew gasps from the audience.

Biden amps up rhetoric against Trump

"What do you think he would have done on January 6 if Black Americans had stormed the Capitol?" Biden asked. "No, I'm serious. What do you think? I can only imagine," he added, pointing to Trump's previous promises to pardon those involved in the Capitol attack if he were re-elected, The Guardian reported.



 

Biden’s Detroit appearance capped off two days of travel aimed at engaging Black voters in crucial swing states, including Georgia and Michigan. Earlier, Biden served as the keynote speaker at Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he also critiqued Trump’s racial record.

He condemned Trump’s characterization of the January 6 rioters holding Confederate flags as "patriots" and claimed Black police officers and veterans were attacked that day.

"Extremists close the doors of opportunity, strike down affirmative action, attack the values of diversity, equality, and inclusion," Biden told the Morehouse audience. "They don't see you in the future of America, but they're wrong. We know Black history is American history. We know Black men are going to lead us into the future."



 

In Detroit, Biden echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of Black voters to his political success. "You're the reason Donald Trump is the defeated former president," he declared. "You're the reason Donald Trump is going to be the loser again," he added to cheers from the audience.

Biden also highlighted his own administration's achievements in promoting racial equality, notably the appointment of Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black female Supreme Court Justice.

"Let me ask you, if he’s reelected, who do you think he’ll put on the Supreme Court? Do you think he’ll put anybody who has a brain?” Biden asked rhetorically. “As Dr King said, give us the ballot. We’ll put judges on the bench who will judge justly and do mercy.”

Biden further promised to support key Democratic legislative initiatives if re-elected.

"Reelect Kamala and me and a Democratic Congress and we will help the NAACP. We will sign the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, the Freedom to Vote Act, and make Roe v Wade the law of the land again," he said. These legislative goals are central to the Democratic platform but face significant hurdles in a divided Congress.

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 21: U.S. President Joe Biden (L) and Vice President Kamala Harris attend th
US President Joe Biden (L) and Vice President Kamala Harris attend the 10th-anniversary celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

During his presidency, Trump appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Court, significantly shaping its direction and leading to landmark decisions such as the overturning of Roe v Wade, which had guaranteed a federal right to abortion.

Biden criticized Trump for these appointments, suggesting they were part of a broader agenda to roll back progress. The President once again asserted that Trump "snapped" after losing the 2020 election and became "unhinged."

Earlier in the day, Biden visited CRED Cafe, a coffee shop owned by the Crawford family, including NBA players Joe and Jordan Crawford. At the cafe, Biden engaged with patrons and maintained a more diplomatic tone when discussing Trump, though he did criticize the former president's plans to undo Biden's policies.

"The bottom line is the guy we're running against wants to back up all the prospects - all the progress we've made," Biden said. "This guy's a different breed of cat, not your typical Republican," he added.



 

Joe Biden excoriated for racially-charged comments

Biden’s remarks, particularly his question about the January 6 rioters, sparked backlash on social media. Critics accused him of race-baiting and hypocrisy.

"Biden is an awful human being and race baiter," one posted on X.

"Here is a man that was for segregation when he was a senator," another wrote.

"Biden’s desperation is showing. If it wasn’t for Trump he’d have nothing to talk about," someone else chimed in.

"And not one word about BLM riots," a comment read.

"If anyone’s is unhinged it’s Joey!" another added.



 



 



 



 



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online. 

MORE STORIES

After likening Trump’s immigration tactics to Nazi Germany, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker denied ever comparing him to Adolf Hitler
2 days ago
Melania Trump reportedly distanced herself from President Donald Trump’s East Wing renovation, privately questioning the historic demolition, WSJ reports
2 days ago
Donald Trump expressed willingness to work with Democrats while noting that the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, has 'been terrible'
4 days ago
Trump also brought up an incident from 30 years back when Mikie Sherrill was not allowed to participate in her graduation ceremony
5 days ago
Bernie Sanders said, 'So long as we have nation-states, you’ve got to have borders. If you don’t have any borders, then you don’t have a nation'
5 days ago
John Fetterman told Sean Hannity he’s fed up with his party painting Republicans, and especially Trump, as racists, Nazis, or fascists
7 days ago
George Santos says Zohran Mamdani's takeover of City Hall would turn New York City into a 'very dangerous place'
Oct 22, 2025
Chuck Schumer said that things are getting worse every day for the American people
Oct 22, 2025
Robert De Niro said Trump 'is not going to leave the White House' and urges Americans to 'strap on their balls and do something about it'
Oct 20, 2025
The new aircraft is to be used to replace an older plane flown by Kristi Noem
Oct 20, 2025