Biden Claims He’s Done ‘More for the Palestinian Community Than Anybody’

His remarks came from an interview recorded a day before the assassination attempt on Donald Trump

President Joe Biden, who has pledged support for Israel amid the country’s ongoing war with Hamas that has left more than 37,000 Palestinians dead, claimed in a recent interview that he’s “the guy that did more for the Palestinian community than anybody.”

During a conversation with Chris “Speedy” Morman for Complex, Biden addressed growing concerns over his age following a blundering debate performance, his controversial support for Israel’s war in Gaza, and why he appeals to Black voters and other minority communities. The interview was filmed in Detroit, Michigan, a day before the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.

Despite a growing call by lawmakers, donors, celebrities, and prominent media figures for the 81-year-old president to step aside for a younger, more formidable Democrat candidate to take on Trump in 2024 election, Biden reiterated that he was staying in the race. “One thousand percent,” said the president, while declaring the U.S. had the strongest economy in the world and citing the 16 Nobel prize-winning economists who declared Biden’s economic agenda is superior to Trump.

When asked what he’d say to people who are voting for Trump, Biden replied, “What has he done when he was president? Tell me. What has he done to help young people in America? What has he done to deal with racism? What has he done to deal with the fact that you had, the way in which African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans are treated. I mean, what has he done?”

The president also defended his support for the Israel — his administration approved a bill to provide $26 billion in additional wartime aid to the country in April — and called himself a Zionist. “If there weren’t an Israel, every Jew in the world would be at risk,” said Biden. “And so there’s a need for it to be strong.” He added, “By the way, I’m the guy that did more for the Palestinian community than anybody. I’m the guy that opened up all the assets. I’m the guy that made sure that – I got the Egyptians to open the border to let goods through, medicine, and food,” Biden said. “I have been very supportive of the Palestinians, but Hamas, they’re a bunch of thugs.”

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Last week, the United Nations declared that “famine has spread across the entire Gaza strip,” according to its experts.

Following what the FBI called an assassination attempt on Trump at his Pennsylvania rally, Biden addressed the nation on Sunday night. “I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics. And to remember, [while we] may disagree, we are not enemies, we’re neighbors, we’re friends, coworkers, citizens, and most importantly, we’re fellow Americans. We must stand together,” he said, later adding: “Let’s remember, here in America, our unity is the most elusive of all goals right now, nothing is more important for us now than standing together.”