President Joe Biden invoked January 6 in his commencement address to Howard University students Saturday, calling out ‘immoral’ efforts to cling to power in what was a clear shot at former President Donald Trump‘s election overturn effort.
He also brought up Vice President Kamala Harris, a Howard grad, and touted his appointment of Ketanji Brown Jackson. Both are the first women to hold their posts.
‘By the way, she’s brighter than the rest,’ Biden said, weeks after announcing his reelection campaign at age 80.
Biden returned to the ‘soul of the nation’ themes as he spoke to students at the HBCU, joined by his politically powerful backer Rep. James C. Clyburn (D-S.C.).
‘I see you leading and I’m not, again, exaggerating – you are going to be leading it,’ he told graduating students.
‘There are those who demonize, and pit people against one another,’ President Joe Biden said in remarks that rebuked Donald Trump’s election overturn effort
‘Again, let’s be clear. For those who don’t see, don’t want this feature. There are those who demonize, and pit people against one another. There are those who would do anything, everything, no matter how desperate or immoral, to hold on to power,’ he said.
‘That’s never going to be an easy battle. But I know this: The oldest most sinister forces, they believe they’ll determine America’s future. But they are wrong. We will determine America’s future. You will determine America’s future.’
He spoke as Special Counsel Jack Smith continues to probe the election overturn effort, while polls show a narrow gap between Biden and Trump, the leading GOP presidential candidate.
Biden also spoke of January 6 and the battle for democracy.
‘January 2021 – I stood in the US Capitol to be inaugurated as President of the United States. Just days before, on that very spot a violent insurrection took place. A dagger at the throat a democracy,’ he called it.
Students gathered in Washington to hear Biden in D.C.’s Capital One Arena for the Howard University commencement
Biden called Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson ‘brighter than the rest,’ and hailed his appointment of her
‘For the first time in our history, an attempt to stop a peaceful transfer of power in this country. They failed. Our democracy held. Again hope prevailed. And this time I was standing with a black woman, about to take a two mile procession down Pennsylvania Avenue as president and vice president of the United States of America it was March alongside her the Howard University marching band in lock step and solidarity,’ he said.
‘I’m not saying this because I’m in a black HBCU, I say wherever I go. You stand up for truth over lies, lies told for power or profit. To confront the ongoing assault to subvert our elections, suppress our right to vote,’ Biden said.
‘The most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland is white supremacy,’ Biden said.
Biden got cheers calling for student loan debt relief, although his policy faces a court fight. He also called for expunging court records for those serving non-violent drug offenses.
He connected his cause with the civil rights struggle, and the march in Charlottesville that he said propelled his return to public service.
‘But I know this: the oldest most sinister forces, they believe they’ll determine America’s future. But they are wrong. We will determine America’s future you will determine Americans that’s not like verbally no graduating class get to choose a world in which they graduate.
He invoked Trump’s famous ‘good people on both sides’ quote.
On student loans, he aimed at the GOP, who he usually goes after as ‘MAGA Republicans.’
‘This new Republican Party is that dead set against it, suing my my registration stop you getting student debt relief. Same opposition received relief loans, I might add, to keep their businesses afloat during the pandemic. Members of Congress worth thousands even millions of dollars, most of it didn’t have to be paid back. Yet they say it’s okay for them but not for you.’
‘I find it outrageous’ he said.
The president contemplated fate near the end of his own remarks, where he appeared to be channeling some of his own life choices as he sets out on a new chapter after decades in public life.
‘You don’t know where or what fate will bring you or when. You just have to keep going. You just have to keep the faith you have to just get up. And if you can find the balance between ambition of happiness and success, that good life purpose and family, and as you know here at Howard of excellence leadership and truth it service, there’s no quit in you. There’s no quit in America,’ he said.
