Joe Biden calls Donald Trump an ‘ally’ of Ku Klux Klan but Internet reminds him of Robert Byrd

WASHINGTON, DC: In a pointed critique of his predecessor, President Joe Biden claimed that the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) felt emboldened to shed their hoods during Donald Trump's presidency, as per The New York Times.

During a CBS interview, Biden highlighted the former president's response to the deadly events in Charlottesville as a significant reason for this perceived shift, emphasizing the importance of a Democratic victory in the upcoming election.

Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is an organization founded in 1865 to push white supremacist agenda.

Joe Biden claims Ku Klux Klan (KKK) felt emboldened under Donald Trump

President Biden didn't hold back as he discussed the resurgence of white supremacist groups during Donald Trump's time in office.

Reflecting on the violent 2017 Charlottesville rally, Biden asserted that Trump's rhetoric and actions created an environment where hate groups felt supported.

"Every other time the Ku Klux Klan has been involved, they wore hoods so they're not identified. Under his presidency, they came out of those woods with no hoods, knowing they had an ally," Biden stated.

Biden's remarks pointed directly to Trump's controversial stance following the Charlottesville incident, where white nationalists and neo-Nazis openly clashed with counterprotesters.

The event, known as the 'Unite the Right' rally, was a chilling display of the far-right's growing confidence under Trump's administration. The rally culminated in the tragic death of Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old counterprotester, after James Fields Jr, a white supremacist, drove his car into a crowd.

The aftermath of Charlottesville saw then-President Trump delivering a response that sparked widespread outrage and concern.

Speaking from Trump Tower, what was initially intended as a statement on infrastructure quickly turned into a defense of his reaction to the violent clash in Virginia, according to The Atlantic.

"What about the alt-left that came charging at, as you say, at the alt-right? Do they have any semblance of guilt?" Trump questioned, shifting the focus from the white supremacists.

Trump's reluctance to unequivocally condemn the white nationalists and neo-Nazis present at the rally led to a controversial assertion: "You had many people in that group other than neo-Nazis and white nationalists. The press has treated them absolutely unfairly," he said.

This infamous moment was punctuated by his statement that there were "very fine people on both sides", a comment that has since been heavily scrutinized and criticized.

Biden seized on these moments, arguing that Trump's words provided the KKK and similar groups with a sense of legitimacy.

"They knew they had an ally in the White House and he stepped up for them," Biden said, making it clear that he views Trump's tenure as a period of increased danger for marginalized communities.

On July 2, 2010, Biden spoke at Robert Byrd's funeral. While Byrd had been involved with the Ku Klux Klan, serving as an organizer and member, he was never a grand wizard. Later in life, Byrd disavowed his association with the KKK, Reuters reported.

However, his initial congressional voting record on racial issues and civil rights legislation was inconsistent, showing both support and opposition at different times.

Joe Biden draws flak online for remarks about Donald Trump and KKK

Joe Biden's remarks about Donald Trump and the KKK quickly sparked a flurry of reactions online, with many users expressing their disapproval and reminding him of his association with Robert Byrd.

One X user commented, "This is the type of rhetoric lies that causes violence. This has to stop."

Another user said, "Yet here is biden with Robert Byrd."

One person said, "Biden's playing the blame game again, throwing around wild accusations with no proof. Claiming Trump was an 'ally' to the KKK? That's next-level crazy. This is just another distraction from his own failures. The guy’s lost touch with reality, trying to divide us even more."

One user stated, "Said the man who went out of his way to appease the Hamas wing of his own party, by letting antisemitism run wild in our universities and cities all over the country."

A user reminded, "Wasn’t one of his friends in the senate the late senator Bryd a clan member."

A comment read, "Says the guy holding Robert birds hand and then eulogized him! Such hypocrisy!"

Another user noted, "Says the eulogizer of Robert Byrd Memeber of the KKK."

 A final user remarked, "This is the man who gave the eulogy for an ‘Exalted Cyclops’ of the KKK. He’s got no room to speak."

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.