President Biden made a statement at an NAACP campaign event in Michigan claiming that as vice president during the coronavirus pandemic, he was sent by former President Barack Obama to Detroit to assist with the response. He referenced working with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and mentioned his family’s ties to the city through his father’s involvement in the automobile business. Biden’s comments seemed to overlook the timeline of the pandemic, which occurred primarily during former President Trump’s term before Biden succeeded him.
During his speech, Biden also criticized Trump, accusing him of downplaying the seriousness of the pandemic and making false claims about injecting bleach as a treatment. He warned against the possibility of Trump nominating more Supreme Court justices, questioning their qualifications and suggesting that Trump’s refusal to accept his election loss led to the events of January 6. Despite his focus on attacking Trump, Biden’s approval ratings in Michigan have slipped slightly according to a recent poll, with 46% of registered voters supporting him compared to 49% supporting Trump.
Biden’s remarks at the event were met with some confusion and skepticism, as the timeline he described regarding his involvement in the pandemic response did not align with the actual progression of events. His comments about Trump and the current state of American politics appeared to be part of a broader narrative of contrasting his leadership style with that of his predecessor. Despite criticism of his own handling of the pandemic and other issues, Biden continued to highlight what he saw as shortcomings of the Trump administration.
The White House was contacted for a response to Biden’s statements, but as of press time, no comment had been provided. The controversy surrounding Biden’s remarks, combined with the ongoing political divide in Michigan and the rest of the country, underscores the challenges facing the Biden administration as it navigates the aftermath of the pandemic and other pressing issues. The contrast between Biden’s promises of unity and progress and the lingering effects of partisan discord remains a central theme in his presidency.
