Rep. Jim Clyburn, a Democrat from South Carolina, drew criticism Monday after making remarks on ABC’s The View suggesting that Republicans are attempting to reverse the abolition of slavery in the United States.

Clyburn appeared on the daytime talk show alongside the program’s hosts and discussed election disputes, historical precedent, and what he described as efforts by Republicans to undermine civil rights gains.

During the segment, he argued that current political conflicts mirror events from the late 19th century and warned that past outcomes could repeat themselves.

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“Anything that’s happened before can happen again,” Clyburn said during the broadcast.

“They were trying to set up a process that will allow this country to return to what it was in 1876 when the election got thrown into the House of Representatives and they were able to overturn what Abraham Lincoln and the Congress had done successfully getting rid of slavery. That is what they’re attempting to do today. I get sick and tired of hearing people say this ‘it’s never been like this before,’ Yes, it has!”

The remarks were met with agreement from the show’s hosts, who nodded along as Clyburn spoke.

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The comments quickly circulated on social media, drawing attention from conservative commentators and media watchdogs.

Clyburn’s statements echoed past rhetoric from Democratic leaders.

In 2012, then–Vice President Joe Biden told a predominantly black audience that Republicans wanted to “put y’all back in chains,” a remark that became a flashpoint during that election cycle.

During Monday’s discussion, The View co-host Sunny Hostin expanded on the theme by accusing the Trump administration of attempting to remove or diminish black history.

“Now, they are significant figures in black history, which is American history, something this administration is trying to erase under the guise of eradicating diversity, equity, and inclusion. What is your reaction to these efforts?” Hostin asked Clyburn.

Clyburn responded by framing the issue as a call to activism and civic engagement.

“Well, my reaction is very clear, we cannot allow it to be done,” Clyburn said.

“And I think that we as activists, I’m elected, but I’m a very much an activist. Those people who are concerned about their future for their children and their grandchildren, we have a role to play that we should not ever set aside.”

Media watchdog group NewsBusters highlighted the exchange, focusing on the historical claims made during the segment and the lack of pushback from the program’s hosts.

Clips of the discussion were also shared widely on X, where critics accused Clyburn and the panel of engaging in historical revisionism.

Republicans and conservative commentators pushed back on Clyburn’s assertions by pointing to the historical record of the Republican Party.

The party was founded in the 1850s with opposition to the expansion of slavery as a central platform.

Abraham Lincoln, the nation’s first Republican president, led the country during the Civil War and signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the freedom of enslaved people in Confederate states.

Critics also noted that the end of slavery was codified with the passage of the 13th Amendment, approved by Congress in 1865.

While Democrats and Republicans both existed at the time, Republican lawmakers played a central role in advancing abolitionist policies during that period.

The comments from The View come amid broader political debates over history, education, and how race-related topics are taught and discussed in public institutions.

Disputes over diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives have become a recurring issue in national politics, with Democrats and Republicans sharply divided over their role and impact.

Clyburn, a longtime Democratic leader and influential voice within his party, has previously warned about threats to civil rights and democratic institutions.

His remarks Monday added to that pattern, while also reigniting controversy over comparisons between modern political disagreements and the institution of slavery.

As the comments continue to circulate, the exchange has become another example of how historical narratives and rhetoric are increasingly central to contemporary political messaging, particularly on issues involving race, elections, and party identity.

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