Live updates as Joe Biden wraps SC State graduation speech, leaves SC
President Joe Biden visited the Palmetto State Friday to speak at South Carolina State University’s Fall commencement.
Biden spoke in place of U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, an S.C. State graduate who was originally tapped to address graduates. Instead, Clyburn received his diploma during the ceremony with graduates, which he never got to do when he graduated six decades ago.
The trip marks Biden’s first return to South Carolina as president.
1:35 p.m.
The motorcade arrived at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Biden boarded Air Force One to leave South Carolina.
12:50 p.m.
Biden’s motorcade left Orangeburg en route to the Columbia Metropolitan Airport.
12:10 p.m.
Biden arrived at Orangeburg Municipal Airport to take photos with individuals he was supposed to meet there initially. The crowd included the Orangeburg mayor, a member of Orangeburg City Council, several state lawmakers and a solicitor.
11:50 a.m.
Biden and Clyburn left S.C. State. They will return to the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, where Air Force One awaits.
11:15 a.m.
Clyburn was called to receive his degree. Board of Trustees Chairman Rodney C. Jenkins and President Biden handed him a maroon folder embossed with the university’s seal.
Biden and Clyburn remained on the stage and took pictures with graduates as they were called.
11:08 a.m.
S.C. State officials awarded Biden with an honorary degree.
11:00 a.m.
In his commencement address, Biden talked about efforts to confront hate and racism across the country. Biden said there’s a through-line from the Orangeburg Massacre to the shooting at Charleston’s Mother Emanuel AME Church to the Unite the Right rally at Charlottesville, Virginia, where a white supremacist killed a woman, to the Jan. 6 Capitol riots this year.
Biden said you can defeat hate, but you can’t get rid of it.
“When given oxygen by political leaders, it comes out, ugly and mean as it was before,” Biden said. “We can’t give it any oxygen. We have to step on it. We have to stop it.”
“When the majority speaks up, it has an impact,” Biden added.
The president turned to the graduates.
“You’re going to have to be the light,” Biden told them.
Biden finished his speech by wishing the best to the graduates and wishing them a merry Christmas.
10:45 a.m.
The president also talked about his administration’s accomplishments over the last year and its goals going forward.
Biden highlighted his administration’s contributions to historically Black colleges this year. This year, Congress has allocated an extra $5 billion to HBCUs, Biden said.
South Carolina State used CARES Act funding to clear $9.8 million in student debt earlier this year.
Biden said there is always more the country’s leaders could do.
Biden also talked about his infrastructure bill, which passed earlier this year. The president said money from that bill will help Black businessmen, contractors and engineers make major improvements to Black towns and cities.
The president also promised more criminal justice and police reform, specifically mentioning the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a Democrat-championed bill that has yet to gain traction in Congress.
“The fight’s not over, despite Republicans’ fight to obstruct this bill,” Biden said.
Biden also pushed for programming to help inmates recently released from prison successfully reenter society.
“We need you to lead a lot of these efforts,” Biden told graduates.
10:35 a.m.
Biden kicked off his commencement speech by talking about the 2020 South Carolina Democratic primary. He recalled facing the First in the South primary with no wins under his belt, but coming out of it winning every single district in the Palmetto State.
He reiterated Clyburn’s message to graduates to never give up.
Biden then talked about the importance of historically Black colleges and universities.
“You’re inheriting an incredible tradition, graduating from this university,” Biden told students.
Biden then turned to Clyburn.
“Jim, I’m honored you asked me to be here to receive your diploma,” Biden said.
Biden then applauded the accomplishments of the graduates. He congratulated them for completing their degrees despite the COVID-19 pandemic, remote learning challenges and a devastated economy.
10:25 a.m.
Clyburn took the podium to introduce Biden.
The S.C. State alumnus made the students first stand and thank their parents and guardians for supporting them through their college career.
Clyburn recalled his failed attempts to run for Congress before he was elected. He urged graduates to never give up.
Clyburn also talked about being invited to give the commencement speech. The long-time congressman said right away, he had another speaker in mind.
“When we reached out to Joe Biden, he immediately accepted,” Clyburn said.
Clyburn then introduced Biden and left the podium.
10:10 a.m.
To a chorus of “Hail to the Chief,” President Biden took the stage at South Carolina State University, flanked by Clyburn in his graduation regalia.
Biden browsed the ceremony’s program as the ceremony began.
9:45 a.m.
Biden’s motorcade arrived at South Carolina State University.
9:00 a.m.
According to the White House travel pool, the president will be taking a motorcade to Orangeburg rather than taking Marine One because of a heavy fog that settled over the Midlands Friday morning.
Traffic was stopped on Interstate 26 as the motorcade left the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. S.C. Department of Transportation traffic cameras showed cars were beginning to back up along parts of Interstate 26 and Interstate 77 shortly after the motorcade’s departure.
The drive from West Columbia to Orangeburg is about 45 minutes, so Biden is expected to remain on schedule.
8:50 a.m.
At Columbia Metropolitan Airport, Biden stepped onto the tarmac from Air Force One, shaking hands and hugging Clyburn and Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin. Clyburn was sporting a South Carolina State hat and mask.
The group then greeted a group of residents who gathered at the airport, with the president, who was wearing a mask, shaking several hands.
After greeting the crowd, Biden got into a motorcade car with Clyburn. The car will take him to Marine One for a flight to Orangeburg Municipal Airport.
8:35 a.m.
Air Force One touched down at Columbia Metropolitan Airport.
Biden was met at the West Columbia airport by Columbia’s outgoing mayor, Steve Benjamin, and U.S. House Majority Whip Clyburn.
Biden plans to take Marine One from the Columbia area to Orangeburg.
This story was originally published December 17, 2021 at 8:47 AM with the headline "Live updates as Joe Biden wraps SC State graduation speech, leaves SC."
