Speaking to a small crowd in his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Former President Joe Biden shared a childhood memory meant to highlight how far America has come since the days of racial segregation.
But it wasn’t the story that caught people’s attention—it was his choice of words.
Joe Biden is spending his first speech since leaving office saying he didn’t have to grow up around black people
“I remember watching a bus go by… it was full of colored kids… I had never seen those.”
The face of the Democrat party pic.twitter.com/4keCWCep8O
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 15, 2025
The reaction online was swift. Supporters tried to defend the remark as an innocent, historical reference.
But critics, especially younger Americans and social media users, accused Biden of using outdated and racially insensitive language, even while trying to make a point about injustice.
To be fair, Biden was trying to illustrate the reality of segregation in mid-20th century America.
The point was that, even as a child, he noticed something wasn’t right about people being separated because of their skin color.
But by referring to black children as “colored kids,” Biden reignited a familiar criticism: his outdated way of speaking doesn’t always keep up with modern standards.
Whether it was a slip or simply a phrase stuck in time, the moment quickly dominated headlines.
Some conservatives rolled their eyes—not because they agreed with the terminology, but because of what they see as a double standard in media coverage.
Let’s flip the script for a second.
If Donald Trump had used the same term in a public speech, do we really think the media would give him the benefit of the doubt?
Of course not.
The headlines would scream “Racist Rant” and social media would be flooded with calls for boycotts and bans.
With Biden, many legacy outlets are calling the remark “awkward,” “outdated,” or “poorly phrased.”
Not offensive. Not racist. Just… a footnote.
That’s the kind of media bias that drives conservatives crazy.
The issue isn’t just what was said—it’s who’s allowed to say it without facing real consequences.
The backlash online was mixed but loud.
Some commenters said the remark showed how out of touch Biden has become. Others pointed to his long political record, suggesting this wasn’t the first time he’d said something racially insensitive.
Others defended the former president, arguing that the term may have been used historically and that he was trying to offer a reflection—not an insult.
Still, for a man who claimed to be a uniter and healer it’s not a good look, and simply adds to the growing list of moments where Biden’s age and verbal missteps raise more eyebrows than applause.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
