By Ricardo Lezama 
Previous comments by Biden stating that members of the Ku Klux Klan felt they had an ally in the White House during Trump’s presidency have also become a center of much social media activity. Social media users on the formerly known as X were able to post clips of the most recent interview for Biden after announcing he would no longer run for president.
“Every time that Ku Klux Klan has been involved, they wore hoods, so they are not unidentified. Under Trump’s presidency, they come out of those woods with no hoods, knowing they have an ally.”
PRESIDENT BIDEN: “Every time that Ku Klux Klan has been involved, they wore hoods, so they are not unidentified. Under Trump's presidency, they come out of those woods with no hoods, knowing they have an ally.”
— JOSH DUNLAP (@JDunlap1974) August 12, 2024
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/eevWpHc35M
Biden’s Past Comes Back To Haunt Him?
Some tweeters have agreed with this perspective while others question Biden’s interpretation of history, thus adding further fuel to this heated topic. Curiously, in the run up to the 2020 elections, James Woods mentioned as much, exemplifying the overall right wing talking point feigning fake outrage at the KKK’s positions.
Joe Biden’s friend and mentor, #KKK leader Robert Byrd. He even eulogized this racist piece of garbage at his funeral. No reasonable person can vote for Joe Biden based on this personal history with a Klan leader. It can no longer be swept under the rug. Period. Answer, Joe! pic.twitter.com/HuI5WnejRj
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) September 30, 2020
In general, many twitter users (or bots) have questioned how Biden, the Democratic party about 1960’s era dixiecrats. The underlying racial tensions present in the United States at some point were negotiated down and resolved with figures like Byrd who was indeed a member and organizer for the KKK. Currently, the battle for the center appears to hinge on whether people value more recent racism or past associations.
Ultimately, the crutch of the analysis is whose racism offends voters most. In the run up to the first and now only election battle between Biden and Trump, Reuters was able to debunk a few core issues with the rumors perpetuated around social media. For instance, while Biden eulogized Byrd, Bill Clinton and then President Barack Obama were also present suggesting a changing of perspectives or a negotiated peace between Byrd’s past and then contemporary utility.
Biden’s association with the Klan is basically negligible and through association and debunked at its core claims. The main point of Biden’s statement does resonate with many who also agree that racists have become emboldened both during Trump’s presidency and his campaigning.
Oh my what we have here …a picture of Senator Byrd with his best friend Joe Biden with him. The KKK grandmaster. That’s the same guy that KILLARY loved so much🙄😡 pic.twitter.com/yXmjm8Ui9U
— Michael Archangelis (@GraftonHoward1) August 12, 2024