Biden Tells MSNBC He ‘Shouldn’t Have’ Said ‘Illegal’ In SOTU Remarks On Murder of Laken Riley: ‘These People… They Built The Country’
President Joe Biden on Saturday said he does regret using the word “illegal” during his State of the Union speech, after MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart confronted him over the term.
Biden sat down for a rare in-person interview on the latest edition of MSNBC’s The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart, and after an admiring greeting from the host of the friendly venue, was asked about his use of the term “illegal” rather than “undocumented” when discussing the murder of Laken Riley, whose name Biden mispronounced when responding to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
“So that was one hell of a speech you gave Thursday night,” said Capehart to begin the interview. “You know, I noticed the look of surprise on your face when you walked into the chamber and you saw Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.”
Capehart was referring to the mutually performative moment between Biden and Greene as he was entering the chamber for the joint session.
“Um, it was priceless, you feigned shock at seeing her,” Capehart fawned. “But, during your response to her heckling of you, you used the word ‘illegal’ when talking about the man who allegedly killed Laken Riley.”
“Undocumented. An undocumented person. And I shouldn’t have used illegal. I should’ve – it’s undocumented,” Biden quickly began before the question was even fully asked.
In his response to Greene, Biden described Riley, whose name he got wrong, as “an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal,” which earned criticism from the left and a correction on his behalf from former Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
After Biden brought up Donald Trump for comparison and said that migrants “built the country” and are “the reason our economy is growing,” Capehart followed up.
“So, you regret using that word,” the MSNBC host prompted.
“Yes,” Biden answered before they went to the next topic, which was Capehart asking what it was like for Biden to see Republicans “not cheer” his many great accomplishments.
CAPEHART: You know, I noticed the look of surprise on your face when you walked into the chamber and you saw Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Um, it was priceless, you feigned shock at seeing her. But, during your response to her heckling of you, you used the word illegal when talking about the man who allegedly killed Laken Riley.
BIDEN: Undocumented. An undocumented person. And I shouldn’t have used illegal. I should’ve – it’s undocumented. And look, when I spoke about the difference between Trump and me, one of the things I talked about on the border was that his, the way he talks about vermin, the way he talks about these people polluting the blood. I talked about what I’m not going to do. What I won’t do. I’m not going to treat any, any, any of these people with disrespect.
Look, they built the country. They’re the reason our economy is growing. We have to control the border and, and more orderly flow, but, I don’t share his view at all.
CAPEHART: So, you regret using that word.
BIDEN: Yes.
Watch the clip above via MSNBC.
