Trump argues black voters 'will not be able to vote for' Joe Biden because of '94 law


President Trump decidedly did not leave U.S. politics at the water's edge during his long weekend in Japan. On Tuesday morning in Tokyo, Trump fired off two more tweets about 2020 Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden, this time hitting him for his role in enacting a 1994 crime bill.
"Super Predator was the term associated with the 1994 Crime Bill" that Biden "was so heavily involved in passing," Trump tweeted. "That was a dark period in American History," and Biden has not apologized. "Anyone associated with the 1994 Crime Bill will not have a chance of being elected," he added an hour later. "In particular, African Americans will not be able to vote for you."
But Biden never used the phrase "superpredator" — that was Hillary Clinton — and Trump has his own particularly dark history when it comes to race in that same time period.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Few people think Biden — vice president to America's first black president — would lose the African American vote to Trump, who frequently pushed the lie that the first black president was born in Africa. But that's not the point, says Bloomberg's Sahil Kapur. "If Biden is the nominee, Trump is going to use the '94 crime bill to try and depress black turnout, a la Hillary Clinton and 'superpredators.' ... Low turnout hurt Dems badly in MI WI PA."
The 1994 law is now broadly unpopular among Democrats. "There's a whole lot of talk about Biden and the crime bill," Biden said in New Hampshire last week. He didn't apologize but he cited "three big things" he stands behind: "One-third of the $10 billion was for prevention," the bill was packaged with an assault weapons ban and Biden's Violence Against Women's Act, and "we also set up drug courts so that we could divert people. They should be treated, not in jail."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Tea app hack: user data stolen from women's dating safety app
In The Spotlight Data leak has led to fears users could be targeted by men angered by the app's premise
-
The Assassin: action-packed caper is 'terrific fun'
The Week Recommends Keeley Hawes stars as a former hitwoman drawn out of retirement for 'one last job'
-
The EPA wants to green-light approval for a twice-banned herbicide
Under the radar Dicamba has been found to harm ecosystems
-
Judge halts GOP defunding of Planned Parenthood
Speed Read The Trump administration can't withhold Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood, said the ruling
-
Trump contradicts Israel, says 'starvation' in Gaza
Speed Read The president suggests Israel could be doing more to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office