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The Telegraph claims that Joe Biden has made the statement on Philadelphia radio station

“By the way, I’m proud to be, as I said, the first vice-president, first black woman… to serve with a black president,”

The site has an audio recording, but given that audio is easy to fake, I'm wondering.

Did he make this statement?

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2 Answers 2

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The Biden campaign gave Andrea Lawful-Sanders 8 questions, of which she agreed to ask Biden 4 of the questions in a pre-recorded interview that was broadcast by WURD radio of Philadelphia on 04 July 2024. WURD has an online version (Archive link) where the relevant portion begins at 13:40. (Alternative Roll Call link to full interview since WURD deleted. Alternative youtube link)

Biden is speaking in a very choppy manner and listening to the whole interview it is understood that he isn't really meaning that he is a Black woman.

Biden says:

They should be in jail, and by the way I'm proud to be, as I said, the first vice president, the first Black woman [Lawful-Sanders says "mmhhm"] to serve with a Black president, I'm proud [to have a role in ?] the first Black woman [on ?] the Supreme Court

Listening to the whole interview, "as I said" refers back to Biden previously saying (around 8:30 in the online version) that he appointed the first Black vice-president and served under a Black president. Overall, people listening to the whole interview would understand that Biden is having trouble forming sentences at times, despite having known the questions in advance, but wouldn't consider him as referring to himself as Black or as a woman.

Update

WURD Radio has now canceled Andrea Lawful-Sanders and made the following statement about the interview:

On July 3, the first post-debate interview with President Joe Biden was arranged and negotiated independently by WURD Radio host Andrea Lawful-Sanders without knowledge, consultation or collaboration with WURD management. The interview featured pre-determined questions provided by the White House, which violates our practice of remaining an independent media outlet accountable to our listeners. As a result, Ms. Lawful-Sanders and WURD Radio have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately.

...

Agreeing to a pre-determined set of questions jeopardizes that trust and is not a practice that WURD Radio engages in or endorses as a matter of practice or official policy.

...

...mainstream media has historically ignored, marginalized and stereotyped Black people in their coverage. ... This practice of de-legitimizing Black voices continues today. WURD Radio is not a mouthpiece for the Biden or any other Administration.

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    I don't see how the update to the answer is relevant to the question or the original answer.
    – pipe
    Commented Jul 8 at 5:30
  • 7
    @pipe Speaking that way in a choreographed interviewed seems different from being surprised by a question and misspeaking. Part of the claim in the question is "made the statement on Philadelphia radio station" and this is further confirmation and explanation from the radio station.
    – DavePhD
    Commented Jul 8 at 6:21
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    This answer comes down to: it is understood that "he isn't really meaning" it. So apparently he did indeed say it, correct? (Or else any discussion about "meaning it" would not apply, I mean...)
    – Jos Bergervoet
    Commented Jul 8 at 9:38
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    @JosBergervoet yes, I agree
    – DavePhD
    Commented Jul 8 at 10:30
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    @pipe The link to original audio source is satisfactory answer.
    – pinegulf
    Commented Jul 9 at 4:49
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The Economist makes an educated guess as to the meaning of his mangled sentences:

He [Biden] is more vigorous when speaking off a teleprompter, but when not using one has a tendency to mangle his words. During a recent radio interview he declared, “I’m proud to be, as I said, the first vice-president, first black woman, to serve with a black president.” (He apparently had been trying to say that he was proud to serve as Barack Obama’s vice-president, and also proud to be the first president with a black female vice-president.)

-- The Economist, Joe Biden’s ABC interview will not quell doubts about his future

Note: Barack Obama identifies himself as black man. Biden's vice president is Kamala Harris, who identifies as black woman.

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  • Welcome to skeptics. We try to find the answer to the specific question asked. Inferring further (political) implications lead to swamp of internet hatewars.
    – pinegulf
    Commented Jul 10 at 4:49
  • OK, for Harris and Obama it's clear, but does Biden identify himself as a black woman?
    – Jos Bergervoet
    Commented Jul 10 at 7:07
  • Your answer here doesn't address the question directly, nor does it provide direct evidence that would prove it either way. Are there any sources that do this? If not, maybe that's something worth mentioning.
    – inund8
    Commented Jul 13 at 0:32
  • As it’s currently written, your answer is unclear. Please edit to add additional details that will help others understand how this addresses the question asked. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center.
    – inund8
    Commented Jul 13 at 0:32
  • If you do not understand, that is on you. Biden clearly mangled his sentences and his words had a meaning different from a direct reading. I have provided a reputable source.
    – knallfrosch
    Commented Jul 13 at 18:59

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