FACT BRIEF

Did Joe Biden call Abraham Lincoln one of the most racist presidents in history?

Monday, February 12, 2024

By Tom Kertscher

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During an Oct. 22, 2020, debate between then-President Donald Trump and Joe Biden, Biden referred to Trump facetiously as Abraham Lincoln after Trump invoked the 16th president.

Trump said: “Nobody has done more for the black community than Donald Trump. And if you look, with the exception of Abraham Lincoln — possible exception, but the exception of Lincoln — nobody has done what I’ve done.”

Biden later replied, referring to Trump: “Abraham Lincoln here is one of the most racist presidents we’ve had in modern history.”

An ad that ran on Facebook and Instagram falsely stated that Biden called Lincoln one of the most racist presidents in history.

The ad ran Feb. 3 and 4, 2024. It targeted people in Wisconsin and other states and offered a free “Trump 2024” flag.

The ad was placed by Liberty Defender Group; its Facebook page contains no description of the group.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

CNBC Television Joe Biden calls President Donald Trump one of the most racist presidents in history

ABC News Biden and Trump speak on institutional racism in America

Facebook Liberty Defender Group Facebook-Instagram ad

Facebook Liberty Defender Group

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Wisconsin Watch

Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.