President Biden and Vice President Harris have responded swiftly to the massacre earlier this week, including restructuring tomorrow’s previously planned trip to Atlanta.
Why it matters, via Margaret Talev, Axios' managing editor for politics: the response reflects both Biden's instincts and his engagement with the community during last year's campaign.
The big picture: Biden looked to AAPI voters to help put him over the top in the final weeks of his race against Donald Trump — and exit polling suggested they supported Biden over Trump by roughly 1 to 2.
- Biden acknowledged the hate and fear many in the community were experiencing around bogus COVID-related messaging. "These racist acts must stop," he said, vowing to address the targeting "with urgency and seriousness.
What's next: Biden and Harris scrapped an event celebrating the COVID stimulus and instead will meet with Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders on Friday.
- The White House has lowered flags in memory of the eight killed, including six Asian women, and administration officials have reached out to the AAPI community.
Go deeper ... Biden: Georgia shootings "troubling" amid year of brutality against Asian Americans
