Transcript - Remarks: Joe Biden Holds an Eid al-Fitr Reception at The White House - May 1, 2023 | Factba.se

Joe Biden

00:00:00 - 00:00:17 ()

Welcome to your home. Welcome, everyone. Eid Mubarak -- [Audience responds "Eid Mubarak!"]

Joe Biden

00:00:17 - 00:00:22 ()

-- to one and all.

Joe Biden

00:00:22 - 00:00:24 ()

I -- I just asked -- [Audience member calls out "Thanks, Uncle Joe."]

Joe Biden

00:00:24 - 00:00:24 ()

Joe Biden

00:00:24 - 00:00:42 ()

I just asked whether or not prayer was supposed to start at six o' clock. [Laughter] It is now -- five minutes. This will be the quickest speech I ever made in my entire life. [Laughter] But I'm told it's not a -- actually has to be at six. Is that right?

Joe Biden

00:00:42 - 00:00:45 ()

Well, thank you, Doug and Kamala, for being here.

Joe Biden

00:00:45 - 00:00:48 ()

And thank you, Ronnie, for sharing your music with us.

Joe Biden

00:00:48 - 00:00:57 ()

And, Imam, thank you for that introduction and creating a place of connection and belonging for Muslims here in Washington, D.C.

Joe Biden

00:00:57 - 00:01:04 ()

And thank all of you for joining us in the White House. It is the People's House, for real. It's your house. It's your house.

Joe Biden

00:01:04 - 00:01:17 ()

It represents an incredibly diverse contributions of -- that Muslims have made to our nation as teachers, as engineers, as doctors, lawyers, business owners, congresswomen, congressmen.

Joe Biden

00:01:17 - 00:01:27 ()

Muslims surveyed and served very, very bravely in the U.S. Armed Forces and law enforcement in putting -- [Audience member calls out "Woo!"]

Joe Biden

00:01:27 - 00:01:27 ()

What branch? [Audience member responds "Army, sir!"]

Joe Biden

00:01:27 - 00:01:29 ()

Army? All right.

Joe Biden

00:01:29 - 00:01:37 ()

Putting their lives on the line to keep our communities and our country safe. [Applause]

Joe Biden

00:01:37 - 00:01:40 ()

You've led civil society groups, helping refugees and

Joe Biden

00:01:40 - 00:01:46 ()

people with disabilities, creating opportunities for women, and standing up against hate.

Joe Biden

00:01:46 - 00:01:52 ()

Muslim culture is woven throughout the American culture in music, film, literature, fashion, and the arts.

Joe Biden

00:01:52 - 00:02:09 ()

And the cheer from Muslim -- we cheer for Muslim athletes, like Kareem Alj- -- Alj- -- Abdul-Jabbar. I know him, and I still mispronounced his name. [Laughter] But he calls me "Joe Bid-en" once in a while. [Laughter]

Joe Biden

00:02:09 - 00:02:14 ()

Remains and -- and think of all the great Muslim athletes we saw in the Final Four.

Joe Biden

00:02:14 - 00:02:19 ()

Folks, look, he remains an inspiration. And there are even Muslim superheroes now, like Mrs. Marvel. [Audience cheers]

Joe Biden

00:02:19 - 00:02:21 ()

Joe Biden

00:02:21 - 00:02:34 ()

On that note, I want to mention one special guest tonight, a huge superhero fan from Lexington, Massachusetts: Omar Masood.

Joe Biden

00:02:34 - 00:02:42 ()

Omar, where are you? There you are, Omar. [Applause] The owner of Omar's World of Comics.

Joe Biden

00:02:42 - 00:02:46 ()

All right. There you go. You're looking good, man.

Joe Biden

00:02:46 - 00:02:54 ()

He sells comic books, hosts gaming tournaments, and most importantly, he offers job training for students with disabilities. [Applause]

Joe Biden

00:02:54 - 00:03:06 ()

Omar -- Omar has Down syndrome. And his store is a place where everyone is welcome -- everyone is welcome -- everyone is valued, and everyone can make a contribution.

Joe Biden

00:03:06 - 00:03:09 ()

We're really proud of you, Omar. Thank you for being here, buddy. [Applause]

Joe Biden

00:03:09 - 00:03:14 ()

We also have members of the House of Representatives here.

Joe Biden

00:03:14 - 00:03:16 ()

Congresswoman Omar. Where are you, Congresswoman Omar?

Ilhan Omar

00:03:16 - 00:03:17 ()

Joe Biden

00:03:17 - 00:03:19 ()

There you go. God love you. [Laughter]

Joe Biden

00:03:19 - 00:03:24 ()

I'm not supposed to -- I'll get in trouble for saying this, but you look beautiful tonight. [Applause]

Joe Biden

00:03:24 - 00:03:32 ()

And Congresswoman Tlaib. Where's -- where's the congresswoman? There you are. Okay. So do you!

Joe Biden

00:03:32 - 00:03:43 ()

And Congressman Carson. [Applause] There you are. I don't know, man, what to say. [Laughs] [Audience member calls out "He's our dean!"]

Joe Biden

00:03:43 - 00:03:51 ()

He's your dean? I know he's a dean. Are you kidding me? I just didn't want to comment on his looks; I'd get in trouble. [Laughter]

Joe Biden

00:03:51 - 00:03:59 ()

And, by the way, there are more Muslims -- Muslim Americans serving in Congress today than ever in American history. [Applause]

Joe Biden

00:03:59 - 00:04:06 ()

And it's great for democracy. It's great for democracy when Congress looks like America.

Joe Biden

00:04:06 - 00:04:25 ()

I want everyone -- of all the elected officials here who serve in city, county, state governments across the nation, I want to compliment you. Some of you are the first Muslims ever to hold the seats you have. [Applause] Thank you. And I'm so proud to see this during my time as President of the United States.

Joe Biden

00:04:25 - 00:04:31 ()

Finally, I want to recognize all the members of my administration here today. Thank you for being on the team.

Joe Biden

00:04:31 - 00:04:42 ()

Muslim Americans in my administration are working on everything from making sure our veterans get quality healthcare, to meeting the climate crisis, to representing Americans overseas as members of our diplomatic corps.

Joe Biden

00:04:42 - 00:04:55 ()

You know, I've appointed Muslim Americans to positions all across the government, including reinstating the Muslim Liaison position in the Office of Public Engagement here in the White House. [Applause]

Joe Biden

00:04:55 - 00:05:04 ()

To everyone who serves in my administration, working hard every day to help the American people on behalf of them: Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Joe Biden

00:05:04 - 00:05:04 ()

Unidentified

00:05:04 - 00:05:11 ()

We also have the first federal judge --Muslim federal judge. The only one.

Joe Biden

00:05:11 - 00:05:12 ()

Hey, judge, how are you? [Laughter]

Joe Biden

00:05:12 - 00:05:24 ()

I don't know why you wanted the job, man. [Laughter] I appoint all those federal judges, but, you know, thank you for serving. I'm not kidding. [Person responds, inaudibly]

Joe Biden

00:05:24 - 00:05:33 ()

You want to come and make a speech? [Laughter] Hush up, boy. [Laughter] As my mother would say.

Joe Biden

00:05:33 - 00:05:37 ()

Look, folks, I hope -- [laughs] -- you had a blessed Ramadan.

Joe Biden

00:05:37 - 00:05:56 ()

Fasting from dawn to dusk is not easy. No food. No water. Sleep-deprived from late-night prayers, waking up early before dawn. It's a period of testing and sacrifice that brings you closer to others who suffer and strengthens those -- your resolve to help build a better world. It demands patience and determination.

Joe Biden

00:05:56 - 00:06:11 ()

In that way, it's not so different than we Catholics have Lent. We do it for 40 days, but not nearly as hard your time. [Laughter] It's a little longer than Ramadan, but we get to eat and drink -- [laughter] -- during the day, which makes a big difference to say the least.

Joe Biden

00:06:11 - 00:06:32 ()

In the end, Ramadan brings you closer to God and to each other, because Ramadan is something you experience together. That's the important piece of it. You support each other through their daily fasts. You show generosity by giving alms to hungry people. You gather with friends and family and for iftars each night.

Joe Biden

00:06:32 - 00:06:43 ()

And then, at the end of the month, you celebrate Eid with new clothes -- [laughter] -- brightly decorated homes, delicious sweets, which I'm waiting for. [Laughter]

Joe Biden

00:06:43 - 00:06:50 ()

All told, Ramadan is a time to slow down, reconnect, and remember what matters most.

Joe Biden

00:06:50 - 00:06:55 ()

And even after Ramadan is over, you carry those lessons for the rest of the year.

Joe Biden

00:06:55 - 00:07:07 ()

At this point, we look ahead to the work that remains. We remember Muslim communities around the world that are enduring conflict, poverty, hunger, disease, and those that are

Joe Biden

00:07:07 - 00:07:09 ()

displaced from their homes.

Joe Biden

00:07:09 - 00:07:16 ()

And we recommit to the tireless work of building peace and standing up for the rights and dignity of all people. All people.

Joe Biden

00:07:16 - 00:07:35 ()

And we're determined to confront all forms of hate, including Islamophobia, which is important to me. [Applause] This is a priority for my administration, which is why I established an interagency task force to address attacks on Muslims and anti-Muslim bias and discrimination.

Joe Biden

00:07:35 - 00:07:40 ()

And this was a focus of United -- the "United We Stand" summit we convened last September.

Joe Biden

00:07:40 - 00:07:49 ()

Standing up against anti-Muslim hate is essential to who we are as a country founded on freedom and justice for all.

Joe Biden

00:07:49 - 00:07:59 ()

Let me close with this. Muslims have been part of the United States from the very start. Muslims fought along the patriots during the War for Independence.

Joe Biden

00:07:59 - 00:08:05 ()

One of the first countries to recognize the United States as an independent nation was a Muslim country, Morocco. [Applause]

Joe Biden

00:08:05 - 00:08:19 ()

Today, there are 3.5 million of you in the United States. You come from different ethnicities, races, speak different languages, but you're united all as Americans.

Joe Biden

00:08:19 - 00:08:30 ()

You know, the Quran teaches that, "One of His [highest] signs is the creation of the heavens and earth and the diversity of our languages and colors." Well, I believe that to be true.

Joe Biden

00:08:30 - 00:08:38 ()

That same idea echoed in the motto of our nation, "E Pluribus Unum." Out of many, one.

Joe Biden

00:08:38 - 00:09:02 ()

That's who we are as Americans. We're the most unique country in the world. We're the only country based on not ethnicity, not on race, religion, but based on an idea. An idea that's confident, that's shared by all major faiths. And that is that we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men and women are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.

Joe Biden

00:09:02 - 00:09:11 ()

You know, just ask someone who's here with us today, Khizr Khan. Mr. Khan, it's so good to see you, man. It really is. [Applause]

Joe Biden

00:09:11 - 00:09:23 ()

He studied the Cons- -- the U.S. Constitution as a law student in Pakistan; immigrated to America with his wife and their young family, fully believing in the promise of this nation.

Joe Biden

00:09:23 - 00:09:33 ()

They watched their middle son enlist in the United States Army, who, like mine, ultimately sacrificed himself to save, in this case -- in his case -- his fellow soldiers.

Joe Biden

00:09:33 - 00:09:49 ()

In late November of 2016, at a time when the oldest and darkest forces of hate had emerged in new ways, I invited Mr. and Mrs. Khan to the Vice President's Residence in the Naval Observatory for a Diwali reception. Okay?

Joe Biden

00:09:49 - 00:10:00 ()

An Irish Catholic Vice President, a Muslim Gold Star family in a reception observing Hindu holidays. [Laughter] But that's what America -- that's the America we both know.

Joe Biden

00:10:00 - 00:10:17 ()

Last summer, right here in this room, I presented Mr. Khan with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. And he deserved it. [Applause] That medal rests next to his son's Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Joe Biden

00:10:17 - 00:10:24 ()

And Mr. Khan still carries a copy of the Constitution in his pocket as a reminder of the charge to keep.

Joe Biden

00:10:24 - 00:10:44 ()

Folks, thank you -- all of you -- for your contributions to our nation, for your patriotism, for your community spirit, for your commitment to the shared values that make us great. And --

Unidentified

00:10:44 - 00:10:54 ()

Mr. President, I'm a mother of a proud U.S. Marine. And he just wanted to say hello. And he loves you. [Laughter]

Joe Biden

00:10:54 - 00:10:58 ()

Well, thank you very, very much. [Laughter]

Unidentified

00:10:58 - 00:11:02 ()

First Muslim to city council in Boston. We love you.

Joe Biden

00:11:02 - 00:11:03 ()

Well, thank you. [Laughs]

Joe Biden

00:11:03 - 00:11:08 ()

And so I don't get in trouble holding prayer too long -- [laughter] -- Happy Eid Mubarak.

Joe Biden

00:11:08 - 00:11:13 ()

And God bless you all. [Applause] And may God protect our troops. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. [Applause]

Joe Biden

00:11:13 - 00:11:17 ()

So enjoy the evening. The House is yours. Thank you.