Biden Defends Juneteenth, Slams History Erasure in Fiery Galveston Church Speech

At a poignant Juneteenth service in Galveston’s AME church, where emancipation was cemented in 1865, former President Joe Biden delivered a fervent defense of the federal holiday. Speaking with conviction, he condemned efforts to downplay or erase America’s complex history, particularly the legacy of slavery, which he called "America’s original sin."

Biden didn’t mince words, criticizing those who question Juneteenth’s significance as a national holiday. In a moment of restraint, he stopped short of naming President Donald Trump, instead referring to "this guy" while making the Sign of the Cross, drawing applause from the congregation. He reflected on his visits to underserved Black communities in Delaware during his youth, underscoring his lifelong connection to the fight for equality.

"Our country is founded on the promise of freedom—for everyone," Biden declared, citing his time chairing the African Affairs subcommittee and visits to Africa’s slavery origins. He emphasized the need to confront history head-on, rejecting attempts to sanitize it in classrooms or textbooks. This, he argued, includes resisting moves to revert military base names, a jab at Trump’s policies, though Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth clarified that such changes honor different U.S. military heroes, not Confederate figures.

Biden also sounded an alarm on voting rights, urging action to counter barriers that persist six decades after the Civil Rights Act. "Darkness can hide much but erase nothing," he said, invoking Scripture to stress that faith must be paired with action.

Meanwhile, Trump dismissed Juneteenth’s holiday status, grumbling about the "billions" it costs businesses. Others, like West Virginia’s Gov. Patrick Morrisey, issued proclamations but kept state offices open, reflecting the holiday’s contentious place in the national conversation.