Is Systemic Racism a Defining Feature of American Life? Jean-Pierre: Biden Puts 'Equity at the Center' (July 25, 2023)

A reporter at the White House asked a direct question: “Does President Biden believe that systemic racism is a prevalent or defining feature of American life today?” [1]

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre did not say yes or no. She walked through what she called the four crises Biden faced, then said: “Everything at the center of the policies that the President has put forward has equity at the center of it so that we do not leave anybody behind” [1].

The reporter tried again: “So I understand correctly, is what you just said synonymous with saying that the President believes we are still a racist country?” [1]

The video above shows the exchange from the July 25, 2023, White House briefing. Quotes are from the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

”Four Crises”

The question followed Biden’s event that day honoring Emmett Till. “The President’s actions today spoke to a murder and atrocity that was one of countless perpetrated against Black Americans at that time, and all of which helped galvanize the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s,” the reporter said [1].

Jean-Pierre answered by listing Biden’s priorities. “When the President walked into this administration — and I’ve said this many times before at this podium — he talked about four crises that this country was facing,” she said, starting with climate change and COVID [1].

She turned to the economy and blamed the prior administration. “Businesses were shut down. Schools were shut down. We were in a completely different place because of the lack of action that the last administration took,” she said. “And now we’re in a place where we’ve created more than 13 million jobs. We’re in a place where wages are up. Inflation is coming down; it’s easing. And we have talked about Bidenomics, the President’s plan, and how it’s moving this country forward” [1].

“And last but not least, obviously, he talked about the racial injustices that we’re seeing. He talked about systemic racism,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

”Equity at the Center”

She pointed to an executive order Biden signed “very early on in the days of his administration to make sure that we have a federal government that’s — that moves forward in an equitable way” [1]. That was Executive Order 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government,” signed on Biden’s first day [2].

The order opened with a statement of policy: “Equal opportunity is the bedrock of American democracy, and our diversity is one of our country’s greatest strengths. But for too many, the American Dream remains out of reach” [2].

Asked whether that meant Biden considers America “still a racist country,” Jean-Pierre answered: “What the President believes is that we are — we have to deal with racial injustices in this country, that we have to deal with it in a real way, that we have to create a situation where — and he does this with his policy — that there’s equity at the center of everything and that we do not leave anybody behind” [1].

Then she moved on: “I’m going to keep going” [1].

”Does President Biden Trust Prime Minister Netanyahu?”

The same reporter had first asked about Israel. “All you seem willing to say about President Biden’s relationship with Mr. Netanyahu is that the two men have known each other a long time and that they speak candidly to each other. My question is this: Does President Biden trust Prime Minister Netanyahu?” [1]

“They have a longstanding relationship. They speak candidly with each other,” Jean-Pierre said. “I’m not going to get into — into specifics about their relationship” [1].

“The record will reflect that you are unwilling to say that the President trusts Prime Minister Netanyahu,” the reporter said [1].

By the Numbers

• 4: crises Jean-Pierre said Biden “talked about” when he took office [1].
• 13 million-plus: jobs Jean-Pierre credited to the administration [1].
• 13985: the number of Biden’s day-one equity order [2].
• 60 days: the deadline Trump gave agencies in 2025 to end “equity action plans” [3].

What Happened Next

Trump ended it. On Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an order titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.” It said “the Biden Administration forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs, going by the name ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI), into virtually all aspects of the Federal Government” [3].

The order named Biden’s day-one order. “This was a concerted effort stemming from President Biden’s first day in office, when he issued Executive Order 13985,” it said. Under that order, “nearly every Federal agency and entity submitted ‘Equity Action Plans.’” Trump’s order added: “That ends today. Americans deserve a government committed to serving every person with equal dignity and respect” [3].

It told agencies to “terminate, to the maximum extent allowed by law, all DEI, DEIA, and ‘environmental justice’ offices and positions (including but not limited to ‘Chief Diversity Officer’ positions)” and all “equity action plans” within 60 days [3].

For Biden’s reaction to the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling, see HYGO News’ page on Biden and the affirmative action ruling.

Sources

1. The American Presidency Project: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre (July 25, 2023)
2. The American Presidency Project: Executive Order 13985—Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (January 20, 2021)
3. The White House: Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing (January 20, 2025)