Joe Biden tells MSNBC's Joy Reid he's already vetted 4 VP candidates, will 'narrow the list' soon

(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/MSNBC)

published 21 July 2020

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden was the main guest on Joy Reid's inaugural MSNBC prime time show Monday, and she tried to get him to divulge more information on who he might pick as his running mate. She had some general suggestions, too.

"Black women, in particular, have been the heartbeat of the Democratic Party for a long time," Reid said. "Are you committed to naming a Black woman as your vice presidential running mate?" He wasn't. "I am not committed to naming any but the people I've named, but among them there are four Black women," Biden said. "So that decision is underway right now." He did "guarantee" and "promise," however, that his administration "will look like America, both from vice president to Supreme Court to Cabinet positions to every major position in the White House."

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Reid began the show by playing clips from Chris Wallace's interview of President Trump on Fox News Sunday, then asking for Biden's reaction. She first showed Trump claiming that regarding the coronavirus pandemic, "no other country has done what we've done in testing — we are the envy of the world." "I think he's right," Biden said. "No country has ever done what we've done: walk away. There is no leadership here. He actually has zero, zero. He surrendered. ... He was gonna be a wartime president, fighting this virus. Well, he raised the white flag. He has no idea what to do. Zero. It's only one thing he has in mind: How does he win re-election? And it doesn't matter how many people get COVID and/or die from COVID." Watch below. Peter Weber

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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.