Biden struggles to remember defense secretary's name, refers to him as 'Black man' instead
President Joe Biden appeared to stumble during a recent interview when recalling the name of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, instead referring to him as “a Black man."
The comments came during an appearance on Black Entertainment Television (BET), during which Biden made his pitch to Black voters. Voters of color proved crucial to Biden's 2020 win, and his campaign is now fighting to retain them.
During the discussion, Biden told journalist Ed Gordon he had taken "heat" for appointing Black people, such as Austin, to high-ranking government positions.
“It’s all about treating people with dignity,” Biden said. “It’s about making sure that— look for example, look at the heat I’m getting because I named a, the, secretary of defense, a Black man.”
He went on to mention Ketanji Brown Jackson, a Black woman who he appointed to the Supreme Court in 2022.
Some on social media, including Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, interpreted Biden as having said "the Black man." Such a comment, the senator said, did little to advance Biden's message of respect.
"Nothing says 'dignity' quite like referring to the Secretary of Defense as 'the Black man,'" he wrote.
Ty Walker, an African American Democratic voter in Maryland, told The National Desk (TND) Biden’s comments appeared to be an attempt to indulge Black viewers.
“When any white person employs or gives position to any person of color but then uses that choice to prop themselves up, it takes away from the recognition of the selected person's accomplishments and the ability to do whatever job they're appointed," he said. "It doesn't make them seem like they truly care about equality or inclusivity. Otherwise they would have just selected the person and let their talents speak for themselves."
The slip-up comes as Biden is facing renewed calls to exit the presidential race over his repeated speaking gaffes. Nearly two-thirds of Democrats say Biden should let his party select a new nominee, undercutting the president’s argument that millions of Americans remain behind his reelection campaign.
Several high-ranking Democrats, including Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., have reportedly urged the president to drop out.fficer.
