Biden Calls Kamala Harris “President Harris” at Commencement, Claims He Desegregated Restaurants in Civil Rights Movement

On 12/17/2021, President Biden again referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “President Harris” during a commencement address at South Carolina State University. Biden also told the mostly Black audience of graduates that he had desegregated restaurants and movie theaters during the civil rights movement. The same week, White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Biden intended to run for reelection in 2024 with Harris on the ticket, even as Harris herself had not said the two had discussed it.

”President Harris Is a Proud Howard Alum”

During his commencement speech, Biden made the slip that had become a recurring verbal stumble of his presidency. “But all kidding aside, of course, President Harris is a proud Howard alum,” Biden said, referring to the vice president’s alma mater Howard University while accidentally promoting her to president.

The gaffe was not the first time Biden had referred to Harris as “President Harris.” He had made the same slip multiple times during his first year in office, fueling ongoing commentary about Biden’s verbal difficulties and speculation about the power dynamics between the president and vice president.

”Getting Ready to Go Out and Desegregate Restaurants”

Biden then told the graduates about his personal involvement in the civil rights movement — a claim that has been repeatedly questioned. “I got started in politics because of the civil rights movement,” Biden said. “I noticed some of you were a little looking, and I thought you were wondering, how does he know the Black National Anthem?”

“Well, because I sat in a Black church after going to 7 o’clock mass — I’m a practicing Catholic — at 10 o’clock on the east side, getting ready to go out and desegregate restaurants and movie theaters,” Biden said.

Biden has previously faced scrutiny for embellishing his civil rights record. He has at various times claimed he was arrested during the civil rights movement, marched for civil rights, and was involved in desegregation efforts — claims that fact-checkers have found to be exaggerated or unsubstantiated.

Harris Had Not Discussed 2024 Reelection With Biden

On 12/16/2021, Vice President Harris gave an interview with the National Security Journal in which she was asked whether she assumed Biden would run again. Rather than offering a definitive yes, Harris said the two of them had not talked about it — a notable response given the White House’s repeated insistence that Biden planned to seek reelection.

Deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was pressed on the disconnect. “I can’t speak to a conversation that the vice president and the president have,” Jean-Pierre said. “I could only say what and reiterate what Jen has said and what the president has said himself, that he is planning to run for reelection in 2024. I don’t have anymore to add.”

When asked directly whether Biden planned to keep Harris as his running mate, Jean-Pierre was unequivocal: “Yes, he does. There’s no change.”

The exchange highlighted ongoing reports of dysfunction between Biden’s and Harris’s offices, with Harris’s approval ratings at historically low levels for a vice president during this period.

44 Days Without a Press Conference

Biden had gone 44 days without holding a formal press conference, the longest stretch of his presidency at that point. He took no questions from reporters during this period, watching silently as press was herded out of events.

Other White House Briefing Exchanges

During the briefing, reporters pressed Jean-Pierre on several other topics. On immigration, a reporter asked why the administration had suspended talks for cash payments to families of illegal immigrants separated at the border. Jean-Pierre deflected to the Department of Justice, citing “ongoing litigation.”

On crime, a reporter noted that San Francisco Mayor London Breed was now adding police funding after previously pulling it to “reinvest in communities,” as crime surged. Jean-Pierre said the White House applauded the mayor’s decision. “If you’re a mayor or a local leader, there is a crime problem in your community, we think you should step up and do something about it,” she said.

On the Build Back Better legislative agenda, Jean-Pierre was asked whether the bill should take a backseat to voting rights. “That’s a joke,” she replied, before catching herself. “Well, that’s a joke.”

Key Takeaways

Biden called Kamala Harris “President Harris” during a commencement speech at South Carolina State University, continuing a recurring verbal slip.
Biden told graduates he had desegregated restaurants and movie theaters during the civil rights movement — a claim that has faced repeated fact-checking scrutiny.
Vice President Harris told a reporter she and Biden had not discussed whether he would run for reelection in 2024, contradicting the White House’s public position.
Deputy press secretary Jean-Pierre confirmed Biden intended to run with Harris on the ticket: “Yes, he does. There’s no change.”
Biden had gone 44 days without a formal press conference, his longest stretch as president.

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

But all kidding aside, of course, President Harris is a proud Howard alum.
I got started in politics because of the civil rights movement. I sat in a Black church after going to 7 o’clock mass, at 10 o’clock on the east side, getting ready to go out and desegregate restaurants and movie theaters.
I can’t speak to a conversation that the vice president and the president have. I could only say what the president has said himself, that he is planning to run for reelection in 2024.
But just to be clear, when the president says he plans to run again, he means with Harris on the ticket. Yes, he does. There’s no change.
If you’re a mayor or a local leader, there is a crime problem in your community, we think you should step up and do something about it.

Full transcript: 525 words transcribed via Whisper AI.