Biden Issues Apology to Native Americans, Insists Nothing is Wrong With Him

President Joe Biden recently traveled to Arizona to formally apologize to Native American communities for the painful history of forced boarding schools. These institutions, often operated by the U.S. government and religious organizations, forcibly took Native American children from their families and cultures, inflicting deep and lasting trauma.

Speaking before the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona, Biden acknowledged the brutal legacy of these institutions. “For Indigenous peoples, [boarding schools] served as places of trauma and terror for more than 100 years,” Biden stated. “Tens of thousands of Indigenous children, as young as four years old, were taken from their families and communities, losing not only loved ones but also their culture and language.” He detailed the emotional toll and tragic loss of life, citing nearly 1,000 documented child deaths, though experts believe the real number could be far higher.

As he continued, Biden was direct in his apology, saying, “It’s horribly, horribly wrong. It’s a sin on our soul.” He reiterated his statement emphatically: “I formally apologize as president of the United States for what we did.” The moment underscored Biden’s intent to acknowledge the harms inflicted upon Native American families and the lasting generational impacts of government policies aimed at erasing Indigenous identities.

BIDEN: "I'm heading to do something that should have been done a long time ago; to make a formal apology to the Indian Nations for the way we treated their children for so many years."pic.twitter.com/UUr0wPho3p

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) October 24, 2024

In response to reporters’ questions about his health, Biden, who has faced repeated scrutiny over his age and cognitive well-being, paused briefly, saying, “There’s nothing wrong with me.” The statement sparked widespread conversation, as the president’s speech pattern wavered at times, and critics used the moment to question his ability to perform presidential duties effectively. The interaction fed into ongoing debates about Biden’s age, with many observers wondering if he was feeling pressure from concerns over his reelection viability and increased media attention on his health.

Biden's brain breaks in real time, insists there's "nothing wrong" with him.

He's in a state of rapid cognitive decline, which Kamala covered up for YEARS — and has never once answered for it. It's the scandal of the century. pic.twitter.com/eHrxkyOzTG

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 25, 2024

Native American leaders and advocates appreciated the gesture but reminded Biden and the American public that the apology needs to be accompanied by concrete steps to address ongoing issues affecting Indigenous communities. Although this public apology was a first for an American president, activists stressed that meaningful progress would only come with action.

The history of forced boarding schools for Native American children remains one of the darkest chapters in U.S. history. These institutions were rooted in a doctrine of “assimilation,” where children were separated from their families, punished for speaking their languages, and subjected to harsh discipline designed to strip away their cultural identities. The trauma has extended across generations, manifesting in both individual and community struggles, including high rates of poverty, mental health challenges, and substance abuse issues among Native American populations.

In recent years, there has been a greater push to acknowledge and address this history. Indigenous groups, historians, and human rights organizations have called for an honest reckoning, reparations, and further support for the Native American communities still coping with the effects of these policies. They argue that apologies are an essential step in the healing process, but without federal funding and community resources, significant challenges for Indigenous communities remain unaddressed.

The Gila River Indian Community and other Indigenous leaders have long advocated for greater federal recognition of the boarding school era’s harms. Their goals include increased mental health services, education funding, and infrastructure improvements, all essential for fostering the well-being and cultural survival of Indigenous peoples. Biden’s apology, while a landmark gesture, has rekindled discussions about the U.S. government’s obligations to Indigenous communities, which extend beyond symbolic gestures.

Reflecting on the moment, Biden acknowledged, “Lost generations, culture, and language…lost trust.” The apology resonated emotionally with attendees, but many leaders are waiting to see if it will be a starting point for action and reconciliation.

In the days following the speech, White House officials noted that Biden’s administration remains committed to supporting Native American communities. Plans for increased federal resources to improve housing, healthcare, and educational access for Indigenous populations are reportedly in development. Whether Biden’s apology will result in substantive policy changes, however, remains uncertain.