President Joe Biden said congressional Republicans are "worse" than some prominent Senate segregationists, including Strom Thurmond. The Democrat's statements came at a fundraising event in San Francisco, according to a report that the White House sent to various media outlets such as Axios.
"I've been a senator since '72. I've served with real racists. I've served with Strom Thurmond. But guess what? These guys are worse. These guys do not believe in basic democratic principles," Biden said.
In addition, the president added that Thurmond did "terrible things," but "at least you could work with some of these guys." In that sense, the president insisted on attacking the Republicans and noted that "time and again Republicans show they are the party of chaos and division."
The president's statements generated controversy. In fact, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called the comment outrageous. And they occur at a time when there are tensions with Republicans over the Senate foreign aid bill.
"Outrageous. The least popular President to seek re-election is now so desperate and so underwater in the polls he’s playing the race card from the bottom of the deck," Johnson wrote on his X account.
Outrageous. The least popular President to seek re-election is now so desperate and so underwater in the polls he’s playing the race card from the bottom of the deck. https://t.co/srrZBtW2uV
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) February 22, 2024
