In the wake of the New Year's Day terror attack in New Orleans, President Biden's prior assertions about white supremacy being the nation's most lethal threat are facing renewed scrutiny. Before the attack, Biden and his administration frequently emphasized the danger of white supremacy, even contrasting it with threats from groups like ISIS.

In June 2021, commemorating the Tulsa Race Massacre centennial, Biden stated, "According to the intelligence community, terrorism from White supremacy is the most lethal threat to the homeland today. Not ISIS, not al Qaeda — White supremacists." He echoed this sentiment during the State of the Union address earlier that year.

The New Orleans attack, where a suspect identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar allegedly drove a truck into holiday revelers, has been confirmed by the FBI as an act of terror. The presence of an ISIS flag in the vehicle, and the FBI's statement that Jabbar was "inspired" by ISIS, directly contradicts Biden's earlier pronouncements.

While ISIS has a history of global terrorist activity, its influence has waned in recent years. The FBI has not found evidence linking Jabbar's attack directly to ISIS directives.

This incident has brought renewed attention to Biden's rhetoric on white supremacy and national security, which was also emphasized by officials like Attorney General Merrick Garland. In May 2021, Garland testified before the Senate, identifying racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists, particularly white supremacists, as the top domestic threat.

Both Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas highlighted the threat from white supremacists, particularly after the January 6th Capitol breach. Garland described the Capitol incident as a grave threat to democracy, focusing on the disruption of the peaceful transfer of power.

Biden reiterated his stance on white supremacy during a 2023 Howard University commencement address, labeling it the most dangerous terrorist threat.

A 2020 DHS report under the Trump administration had also identified white supremacists and domestic violent extremists as a significant threat. However, Mayorkas emphasized a different approach to domestic extremism under the Biden administration.

The New Orleans attack has sparked criticism and online discussion regarding Biden's previous statements, with some suggesting his words haven't aged well. Jabbar's brother, Abdur Jabbar, stated that his brother, raised Christian, had converted to Islam. He condemned the attack, attributing it to radicalization rather than Islamic faith.