‘I APOLOGIZED IMMEDIATELY’

Biden to Lemon: ‘You Ain’t Black’ Came From Charlamagne ‘Baiting Me’

Biden continued apologizing for the quip: “I should have never said it. I have never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever taken the African-American community for granted.”

Former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday said Charlamagne tha God was “baiting” him in an interview earlier this week when the presumptive Democratic nominee told the New York radio host that any consideration about voting for President Trump means “you ain’t black.” In an interview with CNN's Don Lemon, the former vice president was asked about the contrast between his controversial remarks to Charlamagne tha God and the “empathy” he displayed towards African-Americans when commenting on the death of George Floyd in police custody. “Which leader are you going to be?” Lemon asked. Biden responded, “The leader I’ve always been. I apologized immediately for responding to Charlamagne, who was baiting me, and if you looked at that film you’ll see I was smiling at him. I was referring to him. I wasn't referring to all African-Americans. I should have never said it. I have never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever taken the African-American community for granted.”

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for considering voting for President Trump “you ain’t black” to New York radio host Charlamagne tha God, who said voters might still have questions for the candidate before the 2020 election: “Well, I tell you what, if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black,” he said. Referring to Biden’s words on the death of George Floyd, Don Lemon asked him, “Today you showed a level of empathy that African-Americans want to see. By contrast, that comment that you made a week ago appeared to take African-Americans for granted. In light of these horrible events of this past week, it's important for black voters to know: Which leader are you going to be?” Biden responded, “The leader I’ve always been. I apologized immediately for responding to Charlamagne, who was baiting me, and if you looked at that film you’ll see I was smiling at him. I was referring to him. I wasn't referring to all African-Americans. I should have never said it. I have never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever taken the African-American community for granted.”

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