BTS Ready To Meet With The President Of The United States, Joe Biden

BTS (Photo: Ig @ bts.bighitofficial)

JAKARTA - BTS is reported to have arrived in Washington on Sunday, May 29 yesterday for a meeting with US President Joe Biden. Citing reports from Yonhap on Monday, the meeting was aimed at discussions on how to tackle anti-Asian hate crimes. The group members arrived at Dulles International Airport where fans were waiting to welcome them on their first visit to the White House on Tuesday.​ "The global K-pop phenomenon will join Biden to discuss Asian inclusion and representation, and to address hate crimes and anti-Asian discrimination that have become more prominent issues in recent years," the White House said in a statement. ​The White House further explained that the United States has seen a sharp increase in hate crimes targeting the Asian-American community since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago. Biden has repeatedly stated that "hate cannot have a safe harbor in America."

He has also signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act in May 2021, which allows federal law enforcement to identify, investigate, and report hate crimes.​​​President Biden and BTS will also discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion and the BTS platform as young ambassadors who spread messages of hope and positivity around the world," said the White House. "Before, BTS made two speeches at the United Nations in 2018 and 2021 on issues including climate change and COVID-19 vaccination.