South Carolina's top Democrat Jim Clyburn says he's 'very concerned' as Biden targets African-American voters and won't 'break through the MAGA wall' as the president plans to visit a key Southern state today

  • “I'm not concerned — I'm very concerned,” the South Carolina Democrat said
  • Biden will deliver remarks at Charleston's historic Mother Emanuel AME Church, the site of the 2015 white supremacist shooting

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Rep. James Clyburn, an early Biden supporter who propelled him to victory in South Carolina, now says he is “very concerned” about the president's standing within the black community.

Clyburn was asked on CNN about President Joe Biden's African American endorsement ahead of a Biden trip to Clyburn's home state on Monday.

“I'm not concerned — I'm very concerned,” the South Carolina Democrat said.

Biden will deliver remarks at the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, the site of the 2015 shooting that left nine African Americans dead by a white supremacist.

Clyburn revealed that he has spoken with the president to express his concerns. He added that he has “no problem with the Biden administration and what it has done,” but worries that the White House is not selling its successes to voters.

South Carolina39s top Democrat Jim Clyburn says he39s 39very concerned39

Rep. James Clyburn, an early Biden supporter who propelled him to victory in South Carolina, now says he is “very concerned” about the president's standing within the black community.

Clyburn greets Biden when he arrives in South Carolina on Monday

Clyburn greets Biden when he arrives in South Carolina on Monday

Clyburn greets Biden when he arrives in South Carolina on Monday

“My problem is that we have not been able to break through that MAGA wall to let people know exactly what this president has done,” Clyburn said.

The 30-year-old congressman cited the fact that Biden has canceled billions in student debt — despite his comprehensive debt relief plan being blocked by the courts.

The Biden administration tried to cancel up to $20,000 per person in federal student debt for millions of borrowers, but that was rejected by the Supreme Court in June.

But the Biden administration has offered debt relief programs to government employees, defrauded borrowers and people with disabilities. The Department of Education notes that Biden's policies have already resulted in 3.6 million borrowers being approved for a total of $127 billion in debt forgiveness.

'Nobody writes about that. Nobody talks about that,” Clyburn said. “I'm still hearing from people, as recently as yesterday, that he hasn't kept his promise on student debt relief. And he did that.'

Clyburn was instrumental in helping Biden win the 2020 South Carolina primary, essentially turning around his campaign and putting him on a path to victory.

Clyburn also noted that Biden has appointed more Black women to appellate courts than “all previous presidents combined,” passed the Inflation Reduction Act and worked to reduce medical care costs with measures like insulin capsules.

“This president keeps his promises, but… people keep focusing on the one or two things he hasn't accomplished,” the congressman continued.

Representative Jim Clyburn (D-SC) (L) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Jaime Harrison (R) wait to greet US President Joe Biden at Charleston Air Force Base

Representative Jim Clyburn (D-SC) (L) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Jaime Harrison (R) wait to greet US President Joe Biden at Charleston Air Force Base

Representative Jim Clyburn (D-SC) (L) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Jaime Harrison (R) wait to greet US President Joe Biden at Charleston Air Force Base

Biden has received support from minorities, according to recent polls. A USA Today/Suffolk poll Last week's release showed that Biden's support among black voters had fallen to 63 percent, compared to the 92 percent of African Americans who voted for him in the last election.

His support among Spanish voters has fallen from 59 percent in 2020 to 34 percent today, according to the poll.

Biden also trails former President Donald Trump with voters under 35, 37 to 33 percent.

Former President Barack Obama recently told Biden about the concerns he has about the structure of his re-election campaign reports by the Washington Post and Politico.

Obama reportedly became “animated” during a pre-holiday lunch with Biden over the threat of Trump's possible return to power.

He reportedly told Biden that his campaign had too few authoritative decision makers in key states who did not need to resolve everything with the White House.