The former president delivered what Pierce described as an “awful message” to black men in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, last week. Obama said black men “just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president.” While Pierce raged against the lecture on X, the actor best known for his roles in Suits and Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, appeared on CNN on Wednesday to walk back his online rant.

“I didn’t offer it as a criticism. For me, it was nothing more than strategists in a room saying, ‘Hey, what is the best messaging for black men?’” Pierce explained.

“Did he acknowledge that it was not delivered the right way?” CNN anchor Abby Phillip asked.

“We actually didn’t get into which was better or if it was criticism,” Pierce said. “It was saying that we were on the same page.”

Pierce’s post remains live on X and has received over 4,000 likes.

“Awful message. The party has to stop scapegoating Black men. Black men aren’t the problem,” Pierce wrote. “No other group votes at 87-90% for Dems but Black folk. Men and women. That is a false flag. Black men voting for Trump is insignificant.”

Pierce had also taken aim at Obama in the lengthy response to the clip online.

“Democrats have the record to stand on and should embrace the challenge. But after touring this country specifically engaging Black men, I will not let my party leaders speak condescending towards them,” Pierce wrote.

In 2020, black voters made up 13.5% of all eligible voters. They are expected to make up 14% in 2024, according to the Pew Research Center.

With three weeks left until Election Day, a New York Times-Siena College poll has 71% of black registered voters choosing Harris for president. That statistic would be a historically low majority of black voters to pick the Democratic presidential candidate.