Biden pledges ‘I am all in,’ criticizes Trump on policy

President Biden reassures Black voters, criticizes Trump, and emphasizes unity in first political speech since assassination attempt.

President Joe Biden promised Black voters on July 16 that he was “all in” to seek reelection on Nov. 5 and assailed Donald Trump’s record as President, in his first political speech since his Republican rival’s attempted assassination.

Mr. Biden was greeted by chants of “four more years” as he spoke to the NAACP’s annual convention in Las Vegas, a major gathering of Black voters.

Mr. Biden said he was grateful that Mr. Trump was not seriously hurt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13 but roundly criticized him on a variety of fronts including his handling of the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Let me say it again because Mr. Trump is lying like hell about it - Black unemployment hit a record low under the Biden-Harris administration,” Mr. Biden said.

He scolded Mr. Trump for initially contending that former President Barack Obama was not an American citizen and for his reference to “Black jobs” at the Trump-Biden debate on June 27.

“I am all in,” said Mr. Biden.

The attempt on Mr. Trump’s life on July 13 prompted the Biden campaign to pull its television ads, call off verbal attacks on the former President and focus instead on a message of unity.