Biden: 'If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black'
Joe Biden said he "shouldn't have been such a wise guy" on Friday hours after he told a popular African-American radio host that anyone struggling to decide whether to support him or President Donald Trump in the general election "ain't black."
The presumptive Democratic nominee's comment came at the end of an at times tense interview with Charlamagne tha God on "The Breakfast Club."
A staffer interjected that Biden needed to go, and Charlamagne shot back: "You can't do that to black media!"
"I do that to white media and black media because my wife has to go on at 6 o'clock," Biden said, referring to his wife Jill Biden apparently needing to use the broadcast studio they've built in their basement in Delaware as the coronavirus pandemic has knocked Biden off the campaign trail. Glancing at his watch, Biden said, "uh oh, I'm in trouble."
Charlamagne told Biden that he should come to the studio in New York City for another interview, telling the former vice president that "we've got more questions."
"You've got more questions?" Biden replied. "Well I tell you what, if you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black."
Charlamagne responded, "It don't have nothing to do with Trump. It has to do with the fact, I want something for my community."
"Take a look at my record, man!" Biden shot back.
Later on Friday afternoon, Biden addressed his comments in a call with the US Black Chamber of Commerce, saying, "I shouldn't have been so cavalier" and insisting he doesn't take black voters for granted.
"The bottom line of all of this perhaps I was much too cavalier. I know that the comments have come off like I was taking the African American vote for granted but nothing could be further from the truth. I've never, ever done that and I've earned it every time I've run," he said.
"I was making the point that I never take the vote for granted and in fact I know in order to win the presidency, I need the African American vote," Biden said. "I shouldn't have been such a wise guy. I shouldn't have been so cavalier."
