WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden appealed Thursday (Friday in Manila) for a united front against hate crimes and political violence in a speech building on his bid to present himself as the champion of moderate values at a time of rising extremism.

'We have to face the good, the bad, and the truth. That's what great nations do and we're a great nation,' Biden told a packed hall at the White House's United We Stand Summit. 'You must choose to be a nation of hope, unity and optimism — or a nation of fear and division and hate.'