President Joe Biden on Monday hosted a reception at the White House to mark Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, touting his record supporting the community and bashed his predecessor, former President Donald Trump. 

What You Need To Know

  • President Joe Biden on Monday hosted a reception at the White House to mark Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
  • Biden touting his record to support the community and bashed his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, particularly for his language about immigrants and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Biden lamented the rise in anti-Asian hate during the pandemic and mentioned the hate crime legislation he signed in 2021

“Folks, my predecessor wants a country just for some of us, we want a country for all of us,” Biden said during remarks in the Rose Garden, where guests mingled and blue cocktails and hors d'oeuvres flowed. 

The president specifically criticized Trump, who Biden looks likely to face in a rematch in November’s general election, for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I’ll never forget him lying about the pandemic,” Biden said on Monday. “I’ll never forget the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic.” 

Reports of violence and discrimination against people of Asian descent increased in the U.S. during the pandemic. Amid the rise, less than six months after assuming the presidency, Biden signed a bipartisan piece of legislation expediting reviews of hate crime by the Justice Department.    

“I’m proud to have signed this COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act with your support,” Biden said on Monday. 

The president went on to reiterate his criticism of Trump’s language about immigrants – a point he made exactly a week ago during a Cinco de Mayo reception in the same spot. 

“While we fight for comprehensive immigration reform, he calls immigrants rapists and murderers,” Biden said. 

Biden praised Vice President Kamala Harris, the first South Asian American in the position.

“My name is Joe Biden and I work for Kamala Harris,” Biden said, in a twist on his oft-used one-liner typically reserved for his wife. “I asked her to be my vice president because I knew I needed someone smarter than me.” 

Harris who spoke ahead of Biden at Monday’s reception also participated in a moderated conversation with actor and comedian Jimmy O. Yang to mark the month earlier in the day. 

“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****** door down,” Harris said earlier Monday. 

Asian Americans are the fastest growing group of eligible voters in the U.S., increasing 15% since 2020, according to the Pew Research Center.