Cora Masters Barry, a Washington, D.C., official who praised antisemite Louis Farrakhan, visited the White House twice despite a previous statement from a spokesperson for President Biden that she would not be invited back after her comments. Barry, who serves as CEO of the city’s Recreation Wish List Committee, referred to Farrakhan as a “friend” and “member of the family” during a private event in October 2022 honoring her late husband, former Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry. Her remarks drew condemnation from the White House, with Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates asserting that Biden denounces any praise of Farrakhan and his antisemitic values. Despite this, Davis visited the White House in June 2023 and December 2023, raising questions about the administration’s stance on her association with Farrakhan.
Barry’s appointment to her current position was supported by Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, who praised her as a valuable asset to the city. Bowser defended Barry against attempts to block her from serving on the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Barry, who donated to Biden’s presidential campaign, has faced criticism in the past for comments attacking white women and likening Trump supporters to the Ku Klux Klan. Concerns were raised over her positive remarks about Farrakhan, who leads the Nation of Islam religious group and has been denounced by organizations like the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center as an antisemite and leader of a hate group.
Barry’s repeated visits to the White House since Biden took office have raised eyebrows, with at least six documented visits to date. The purpose of her second visit in December 2023 remains unclear, but her first visit in June 2023 was for a Juneteenth concert on the White House South Lawn, where Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris gave speeches. Despite her initial comments praising Farrakhan and the subsequent statement from the White House disavowing him, Barry has been welcomed back to the White House for multiple events, highlighting possible inconsistencies in the administration’s stance on her association with the controversial figure.
The White House has maintained its condemnation of Farrakhan and his antisemitic views, reiterating that Biden has unequivocally denounced him for decades. However, the decision to allow Barry to return to the White House after her praise of Farrakhan has raised concerns about the administration’s commitment to standing against hate speech and bigotry. The Nation of Islam, led by Farrakhan, did not respond to requests for comment on the controversy surrounding Barry’s visits to the White House and the ongoing criticisms of Farrakhan’s rhetoric.
Despite Barry’s history of controversial statements and associations, including her remarks praising Farrakhan, she has continued to maintain a presence at the White House and in Washington, D.C. politics. Her contributions to the city through her role as CEO of the Recreation Wish List Committee and her support from Mayor Bowser have seemingly shielded her from more significant repercussions for her comments. The repeated visits to the White House raise questions about the administration’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for their associations with figures like Farrakhan and for their past statements that promote divisive and hateful rhetoric.
As criticisms of Barry’s visits to the White House continue, the administration faces scrutiny over its handling of the situation and its response to her comments about Farrakhan. The praise of Farrakhan, a known antisemite, has drawn condemnation from various organizations dedicated to combating hate speech and bigotry, yet Barry’s continued presence at White House events suggests a level of tolerance or indifference to her past statements. Moving forward, it remains to be seen how the Biden administration will address the fallout from Barry’s visits and whether there will be any further consequences for her association with Farrakhan and her history of controversial remarks.
