In a rousing speech at the White House on the first day of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, President Joe Biden outlined his administration’s progress and took aim at key challenges as the nation heads towards future elections.
Addressing a vibrant crowd on May 1st, 2023, President Biden began by jokingly stating, “My name is Joe Biden. I work for Tammy Duckworth,” eliciting laughter from the audience. He proceeded to thank Senator Duckworth for her partnership, alongside other key figures such as Raja Krishnamoorthi and Senator Mazie Hirono for their invaluable leadership and friendship.
Despite admitting to a slight cold, President Biden passionately celebrated the start of the Heritage month, affirming his commitment to an administration that mirrors the diversity of America, a promise he feels has been fulfilled with figures like Vice President Kamala Harris playing pivotal roles.
The President shared the momentum building in his administration’s campaign, noting an impressive 1.5 million individual campaign contributions, with 97 percent of those contributions being under $200, showcasing grassroots support. He highlighted the campaign’s progress, contrasting it with the efforts of “Donald Trump’s MAGA Republicans” and confidently spoke about gaining traction in the polls.
In a lighter moment, Biden recounted an encounter with a “defeated-looking man” complaining about debt—revealing it was Donald Trump, to the audience’s amusement.
Turning to more serious matters, Biden criticized Trump’s policies and rhetoric, especially concerning abortion rights and democratic values. He pointed to a recent interview where Trump expressed controversial views, using these remarks to emphasize the stark difference in vision between their administrations.
President Biden underscored his administration’s achievements, including the creation of 15 million new jobs, historically low levels of unemployment among Asian Americans, and significant investments in climate change and gun safety laws. He praised the community’s contributions and stressed the importance of immigration for America’s strength and economic growth.
The President made a compelling plea for unity and optimism, contrasting his vision of hope against what he described as Trump’s agenda of “anger, hate, revenge, and retribution.” Biden emphasized the need to defend democracy, protect freedoms, and ensure a prosperous future that includes fighting climate change and reducing gun violence.
In conclusion, President Biden left the audience with a message of hope and determination, promising his commitment to the values he laid out and calling for support to continue building a more inclusive and prosperous America. He ended his speech with gratitude towards the contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, and a reminder of America’s capacity to overcome challenges when united.
The speech, delivered from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC, was a reaffirmation of President Biden’s commitment to diversity, democracy, and progress, setting the tone for his administration’s priorities as they look ahead.