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Biden praises BTS global impact: 'Not just talent, it's the MESSAGE. It matters'

BTS visited the White House to discuss Anti-Asian Hate Crimes with President Joe Biden on the occassion of AANHPI Heritage Month

K-pop group BTS has become a household name, thanks to their global popularity and their ever-growing fandom, the ARMY. BTS first transcended from being just another boy group to seven men trying to make an impact with their ‘Love Yourself’ campaign in partnership with UNICEF in 2017. Since then, the boy group has been promoting the idea of self-love and has been acting as a medium for the present generation of world leaders.

From being named as the ‘Presidential Envoys for Future Generations’ to being called to address the United Nations General Assembly not once, but twice, the impact of BTS is now being acknowledged by President Joe Biden. On May 31 (June 1 in Korean Time), BTS visited the White House to meet Biden and discussed the ongoing Anti-Asian Hate Crimes at the meeting. But the entire event became an emotional moment for fans as the US President complimented BTS for their global impact.

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BTS visit the White House

In all-Black hair and black suits, all seven BTS members visited the White House, Washington DC, and met with US President Joe Biden on the last day of AANHPI Heritage Month. The meeting saw BTS members exchange their views on finding countermeasures to anti-Asian hate crimes that have been on the rise ever since the Covid-19 pandemic. Before meeting the US President, members of BTS spoke to reporters and expressed their take on hate crimes against people of Asian descent.

BTS members stated that they were surprised and offended by the recent number of hate crimes against Asians. The members thanked ARMY (their fandom) for their unrivaled support, by saying, “We were able to come here because of our fans of various nationalities and languages ​​who love our music.” Sharing their impactful message on the issue, BTS members stated, “We each have our own history. Equality starts with our acknowledging differences, not by pointing out right and wrong between those differences.”

Biden compliments BTS

On the same day, Biden released a short clip of BTS visiting the White House on the official POTUS Twitter handle. The video started with BTS’ leader and spokesperson, RM (Kim Namjoon) thanking Biden for giving them an opportunity for visiting the White House and for giving the boy group an opportunity to talk about important issues. When talking to BTS members about the ongoing hate crimes against Asian-Americans, President Biden said, “Hate only hides when good people talk about it.”

RM also thanked Biden for signing the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act into law and shared the boy group’s hope to be of a little help using their voice and their medium. The President went on to say, “People care a lot about what you say, and what you are doing is good for all people.” Biden also spoke about BTS’ impact in the global space when he said, “It’s not just your great talent, it’s the message you are communicating. It matters”.

More of BTS’ conversation with Biden will be shared with fans and the general public soon.