PHILADELPHIA- President Joe Biden said Monday that political violence has “no place in the United States,” a day after apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
“Let me just say that there is no — and I say this from the bottom of my heart, those of you who know me, many of you know me — place for political violence in America. None. Zero. Ever,” Biden told the annual Conference of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). He praised the U.S. Secret Service for its “professional handling” of Sunday’s incident at Trump’s golf course in Florida.
As he left the White House on Monday for Philadelphia Biden told reporters that the Secret Service ‘needs more aid.’ Ryan Wesley Routh appeared in federal court Monday on two firearms charges after being detained by local law enforcement Sunday in connection with the incident.
Trump too he survived the attack on July 13 during a rally in Butler.
The Trump campaign issued a press release Monday criticizing the “rhetoric and lies” from Democrats, saying there was “increasingly inflammatory rhetoric against President Trump in the days, weeks and months leading up to the two assassination attempts.”
Man arrested after jabbing rifle at Trump golf course, charged with federal weapons offenses
While Biden condemned the overt attack on Trump, he continued to criticize the former president, who is the Republican Party’s presidential candidate. Trump Repeats False Claims About Haitian Immigrants in Ohiowhat his vice presidential candidate, US Senator JD Vance of Ohio also made a public statementdespite local authorities say these claims are false.
“And now lies and hate are being spread about Haitian Americans in Ohio,” Biden said. “It’s just wrong and it has to stop.”
Vice President Kamala Harris also condemned alleged assassination attempt.
Biden and HBCUs
Biden also mentioned other acts of political violence, including Bomb threats at several HBCUs in 2022and stated that “affirmative action and the values of diversity, equity and inclusion are at risk,” adding that book bans contribute to the erasure of history.
Biden was in Philadelphia to celebrate his administration’s additional $1.3 billion investment in HBCUs, bringing the total to more than $17 billion since he and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn inthe highest level in history.
The investments discussed Monday will fund need-based scholarships and other federal programs, including Pell Grants for HBCU students and “competitive scholarships” awarded by the Education Department.
“Folks, Kamala and I know that education makes you free,” Biden said. “An HBCU education also makes you fearless.”
Early in his speech, Biden was heard chants of “thank you, Joe” after he said he “loved Kamala.”
“Thank you all,” Biden replied. “As the saying goes, you all took me to the ball.”
Harris, the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, is a graduate of Howard University, an HBCU.
Biden said he and Harris have prioritized HBCUs, investing a record amount in the schools while being the first administration to Divine Nine working group at the White House.
“I may be a white boy, but I’m not stupid,” Biden said.
“You’re arguing that black history is American history,” Biden said. “It’s American history. And black excellence is American excellence.”
Of the more than 100 HBCUs nationwide, Pennsylvania is home to two, Cheyney University and Lincoln University. Before Biden arrived, members of the Cheyney University drumline performed in the conference room.
Biden, who was first elected to the U.S. Senate from Delaware in 1972, boasted that Delaware State is the best HBCU in America.
Tony Allenchairman of the President’s Advisory Council on HBCUs and president of Delaware State University, said he has known Biden for 30 years and that the president’s record is a testament to his commitment to HBCUs.
“Everyone in this room understands that HBCUs have always outperformed other institutions by doing more with less,” Allen said. “But President Biden knows that less is no longer acceptable.”
“Everybody in this room should know, should understand, that no other administration in the history of the Republic, let me repeat that, no other administration in the history of the Republic has done more for historically black colleges and universities than President Joe Biden,” he added.
Allen also said Biden’s life has reflected “service to the Black community,” serving as the first Black president’s vice presidential candidate and having the support of HBCU graduate U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) during his 2020 campaign. He also noted that Biden not only chose Harris as his vice presidential running mate, but also endorsed her for president after he dropped out of the 2024 race.
Biden and Trump he argued during the presidential debate in overdue June regarding their support of HBCUs.
When Biden was a presidential candidate, his campaign focused on soliciting black voters during visit to Philadelphia in May. Trump’s campaign has also made efforts to turn out black voters in Pennsylvania, most recently with a bus tour of Philadelphia hours before his presidential debate with Harris.
Harris, who was the most recently in state on Friday visits to Johnstown and Wilkes-Barre, is supposed to be in Philadelphia on Tuesday participate in a panel discussion organized by the National Association of Black Journalists.
Trump’s last appearance in Pennsylvania was on September 4, discussion with Fox News’ Sean Hannity in Harrisburg Apparently it is a visit to Bucks County was planned on Sunday.
