The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Biden calls white supremacy greatest terrorism threat as 2024 race heats up

At Howard University, president says U.S. history ‘has not always been a fairy tale’ and urges unity against racism

May 14, 2023 at 12:52 p.m. EDT
Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick, left, and board chairman Laurence Morse present President Biden with an honorary degree at Howard's commencement on Saturday. (Patrick Semansky/AP)
6 min

President Biden on Saturday declared white supremacy “the most dangerous terrorist threat” to the American homeland, using a speech to graduating students at a historically Black university to elevate a debate that has already become central to his campaign for a second term.

Recounting the story of how he initially decided to run for the White House after seeing white supremacists marching in Charlottesville in 2017, Biden said the country continues to be in a “battle” against “sinister forces” that are determined to turn the clock back to more divisive times.