Harris Warns of "Profound Threat" to Nation if Trump Wins, Urges Action at Congressional Black Caucus Gala
The White House, in alignment with its focus on promoting equity, hosted its first-ever Black Excellence brunch the previous day, where Biden emphasized his administration’s efforts to expand opportunities for Black communities.
WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, issued a stark warning to the Congressional Black Caucus on Saturday, stating that the country’s future is under "profound threat" should former President Donald Trump regain the White House.
Speaking at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C., Harris highlighted the stakes of the upcoming election. Addressing a crowd of 3,500 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, she emphasized the accomplishments of the caucus and the Democratic Party while underscoring the dangers of a Trump presidency.
CBC's critical role
Harris criticized Trump’s policies, warning that they would benefit billionaires while gutting essential programs like Social Security, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act. She reaffirmed her commitment to protecting those programs, noting the CBC's critical role in passing healthcare reforms.
The dinner capped off a week of events during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual legislative conference. Harris, a former CBC member during her time as a U.S. Senator, now stands poised to potentially become the first woman, the second Black, and the first president of South Asian descent if she wins the 2024 election.
President Joe Biden, who received the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award earlier in the evening, echoed Harris’ concerns. He condemned attempts by Republican leaders to undermine voting rights and attack policies promoting diversity and inclusion.
“There are old ghosts wearing new garments, trying to seize your power,” Biden said. “They want to make it harder for you to vote, erase history, and close doors of opportunity.”
The White House, in alignment with its focus on promoting equity, hosted its first-ever Black Excellence brunch the previous day, where Biden emphasized his administration’s efforts to expand opportunities for Black communities.
In his Saturday remarks, Biden also denounced recent attacks on Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, calling for an end to hate-driven actions and rhetoric. “Any president should reject hate in America,” Biden stated. “Not incite it.”
On the campaign trail, Trump has been stoking anti-immigrant sentiment. At a rally in Las Vegas on Friday, he falsely claimed that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, and Venezuelan gangs in Colorado were causing widespread problems. He further promised that, if re-elected, he would initiate the “largest deportation in the history of our country,” starting in Springfield and Aurora.
As the 2024 election looms, Harris and Biden urged the CBC and their supporters to remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice and equality, warning of the potential setbacks under a second Trump administration.
