House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiWashington ramps up security ahead of Sept. 18 rally How social media fuels U.S. political polarization — what to do about it The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Man with machete, swastika outside DNC HQ ahead of weekend Jan. 6 rally MORE (D-Calif.) on Thursday said she had "no criticism" of former Vice President Joe Biden
Joe BidenBiden stumps for Newsom on eve of recall: 'The eyes of the nation are on California' Biden looks to climate to sell economic agenda Family of American held hostage by Taliban urges administration to fire Afghanistan peace negotiator MORE invoking his past working relationships with two segregationist senators as an example of "civility."
“What I think is most important for all the candidates is authenticity, they are who they are, they’ve lived a life and they have grown from their experiences, and I think that’s what he’s trying to tell us," Pelosi told MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell.
“I have no criticism of what he believes is his story to tell the American people, that he will work with anyone to get a good result for the American people.”
WATCH: Speaker Pelosi talks to @mitchellreports about Joe Biden's comments on working with segregationists, President Trump
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 20, 2019Donald TrumpBiden stumps for Newsom on eve of recall: 'The eyes of the nation are on California' On The Money: House Democrats cut back Biden tax hikes Abortion providers warn of 'chaos' if Supreme Court overrules Roe v Wade MORE's campaign kickoff, her advice for other presidential candidates, and Hope Hicks
Hope HicksThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - US prepares vaccine booster plan House panel probing Jan. 6 attack seeks Trump records UPDATED: McEnany, Fox News talks on pause MORE' congressional testimony. pic.twitter.com/OzFB9HRZ6R
Biden has faced mounting criticism over the last two days after invoking former Sens. James Eastland (D-Miss.) and Herman Talmadge (D-Ga.) during a speech at a fundraiser Tuesday night.
The former Delaware senator cited his ability to work with the segregationists as an example of "civility" that no longer exists in Congress, pointing out that Eastland never called him “boy.”
Several of Biden's fellow White House hopefuls, including Sens. Cory Booker
Cory BookerFighting poverty, the Biden way Top Senate Democrats urge Biden to take immediate action on home confinement program Overnight Health Care: CDC officially recommends COVID-19 vaccine for anyone who is pregnant | Pressure builds for full FDA approval | Dems call for pandemic funding MORE (D-N.J.) and Bernie Sanders
Bernie SandersCanada's Conservatives show how dangerously skewed US politics have become The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by National Industries for the Blind - Biden's .5 trillion plan will likely have to shrink This week: Democrats kick off chaotic fall with Biden's agenda at stake MORE (I-Vt.), demanded Biden apologize for the comment.
“You don’t joke about calling black men ‘boys,’” Booker, who is black, said in a statement. “Men like James O. Eastland used words like that, and the racist policies that accompanied them, to perpetuate white supremacy and strip black Americans of our very humanity."
Other Democratic leaders, including House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), defended Biden's comments.
Biden rejected calls to apologize Thursday night, saying he doesn't have "a racist bone" in his body.
His campaign has pushed back fiercely against the criticism he's received over the comments.
"[Biden] did not praise a segregationist. That is a disingenuous take. He basically said sometimes in Congress, one has to work with terrible or down right racist folks to get things done. And then went on to say when you can't work with them, work around them," Symone Sanders, a senior adviser for the Biden campaign, tweeted.
