President Biden on Monday used a White House celebration marking Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to go after former President Trump, citing his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and his comments about immigrants.
Biden and Vice President Harris addressed a crowd of supporters in the Rose Garden, where the president in particular highlighted the administration’s policy gains compared to Trump’s rhetoric and plans for a potential second term.
“We’re lowering costs, expanding opportunities and protecting freedoms. That’s in stark contrast to my predecessor’s view of America, and his view of all of you,” Biden said.
“We’ll never forget him lying about the pandemic. We’ll never forget about the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic,” Biden said, noting he signed legislation in 2021 intended to combat the rise in hate crimes.
Biden bashed Trump over his threats to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, and he called out the presumptive Republican nominee’s comments about immigrants over the years.
“While we fight for comprehensive immigration reform, he calls immigrants rapists and murderers. He says they are not people,” Biden said. “He says immigrants are ‘poisoning the blood of our country.’ Folks, my predecessor wants a country just for some of us. We want a country for all of us.”
Harris, who spoke before Biden and actress Lucy Liu in the Rose Garden, also delivered remarks earlier in the day at the annual Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies Legislative Leadership Summit.
“We have to know that sometimes people will open the door for you and leave it open. Sometimes they won’t, and then you need to kick that f‑‑‑ing door down,” Harris said.
“Excuse my language,” Harris added amid cheers.