Context: During a campaign event in Iowa in 2019, then-presidential candidate Joe Biden attempted to make a point about educational inequality.
What He Said: “Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids.”
The Gaffe: Biden immediately realized the mistake, correcting himself by adding, “wealthy kids, Black kids, Asian kids.” But the damage was done. The comment was seen as reinforcing a stereotype that associates poverty with minority communities, while linking wealth and success to whiteness.
Public Reaction: Critics jumped on the remark as evidence of Biden’s long history of verbal gaffes and his sometimes clumsy handling of sensitive topics like race. Despite this, media intervention and Biden’s overall messaging on racial equity was strong enough to minimize the long-term impact of the mistake.