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Politics

07th Nov 2020

News host breaks down with emotional speech following Joe Biden’s victory

Joe Biden has defeated Donald Trump in the US presidential election. CNN commentator Van Jones was particularly emotional when talking about Biden's victory

Alex Roberts

It was an emotional moment for the CNN host

Joe Biden has defeated Donald Trump in the US presidential election. CNN commentator Van Jones was particularly emotional when talking about Biden’s victory.

He said Biden’s triumph made him feel better about being a father, and that it was proof that ‘character matters’.

Van Jones said: “It’s easier to be a dad. It’s easier to tell your kids character matters … to tell them the truth matters. Being a good person matters.”

Jones continued, claiming Biden’s victory would herald a better life for minorities.

He said: “It’s easier for a lot of people. If you’re Muslim in this country, you don’t have to worry if the president doesn’t want you here. If you’re an immigrant, you don’t have to worry about your babies being snatched away or send DREAMers back for no reason. It’s vindication for a lot of people who have really suffered.”

Jones broke down when discussing the particular difficulties suffered by African Americans over the course of the last four years.

“‘I can’t breathe,’ that wasn’t just George Floyd. A lot of people have felt they couldn’t breathe. Every day you’re waking up and getting tweets, and you’re going to the store and people who have been afraid to show their racism are getting nastier and nastier to you.

“And you’re worried about your kids, and you’re worried about your sister, can she just go to Walmart and get back into her car without somebody saying something to her. And you’ve spent so much of your life energy just trying to hold it together.”

Writing on Twitter, Jones summed up his impassioned speech by saying: “Today is a good day. Character MATTERS. Being a good person MATTERS. This is a big deal.”

Joe Biden was confirmed as having won the state of Pennsylvania, which took him over the 270 Electoral College votes needed to land the presidency.