President Biden visited Philadelphia in an effort to drum up support from Black voters, thanking them for helping him clinch the presidential victory in November 2020. While speaking at Girard College, a predominantly Black boarding school, Biden highlighted the progress his administration has made to improve the lives of Black voters. This includes efforts to eliminate lead pipes for safer drinking water, remove pollution near fenceline communities, provide affordable high-speed internet, and protect the Affordable Health Care Act. Biden promised that these improvements were a result of “a promise made, and a promise kept.”
During his speech, Biden did not shy away from criticizing his chief opponent in the presidential election, former President Trump. He accused Trump of calling the Jan. 6 rioters patriots and expressed his belief that Trump would have acted differently if Black Americans had been involved in storming the Capitol. Biden also alleged that Trump had wanted to tear gas those who were peacefully protesting George Floyd’s murder in 2020. The White House did not respond to requests for clarification on Biden’s statements regarding the protests being peaceful.
The protests in Philadelphia in response to George Floyd’s death in May 2020 started out as peaceful before turning violent. Demonstrators defaced an iconic statue of former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo, looted and defaced storefronts along popular streets, set police vehicles on fire, and engaged in confrontations with law enforcement. Police officers equipped themselves in riot gear and a curfew was imposed to address the violence. Over a dozen officers were injured in the clashes, and the protests were part of a broader wave of demonstrations and riots that occurred across the nation in the wake of Floyd’s death.
The White House did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital regarding Biden’s comments on the protests in Philadelphia. Trump’s campaign also did not provide a comment on Biden’s statements. The former President is reportedly aiming for a rematch with Biden in 2024, seeking to expand the electoral map in his favor. The ongoing political rivalry between Biden and Trump remains a central focus in the national discourse leading up to the next presidential election.
Overall, President Biden’s visit to Philadelphia highlighted his administration’s achievements in addressing issues important to Black voters, such as clean drinking water, environmental justice, and healthcare access. He also seized the opportunity to criticize former President Trump’s handling of protests and riots in 2020, accusing him of supporting violent actions and opposing peaceful demonstrations. The contentious relationship between Biden and Trump is likely to continue shaping the political landscape in the coming years as both leaders position themselves for future electoral contests.
