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Fun:List of Joe Biden gaffes

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If the gaffe does destroy Biden's chances, few in either party will be particularly surprised. The senator's biggest enemy has always been his own mouth ... He simply cannot control what comes out of his mouth.
— Jonathan Darman, Newsweek, Jan 31, 2007.[1]

Joe Biden, the former and 46th president of the United States and former vice president under Barack Obama has a serious case of foot-in-mouth disease long history of making some incredibly silly and downright questionable gaffes. A self-proclaimed gaffe machine, Biden has done a decent job at playing off some of the funny ones, while staying quiet or apologizing for the not so funny ones. Biden has long been known to suffer from speech disfluency, commonly known as stuttering. This disability has been tied to Biden's so-called penchant for gaffes.[2] Listed here are some of the gaffes that can be found and reliably sourced, all listed in order by date of occurrence. It should be noted that Biden has a lively sense of humor, so although many of his critics have always been ready to refer to one of his occasionally odd statements as a "gaffe," such criticism can speak more to the intentions of his critics than to Biden's cognitive ability. In fact, the funny things a politician says are usually called gaffes by critics, when they are only funny things for a politician to say.

1980s[edit]

"I started thinking as I was coming over here, why is it that Joe Biden is the first in his family ever to go to a university? [points to his wife in the audience] Why is it that my wife who is sitting out there in the audience is the first in her family to ever go to college? Is it because our fathers and mothers were not bright? Is it because I'm the first Biden in a thousand generations to get a college and a graduate degree that I was smarter than the rest?"
Plagiarizing one of British politician Neil Kinnock's speeches (September 12, 1987), which then brought up previous instances of Biden plagiarizing other speeches.[3] This was a big factor in the demise of his 1988 presidential campaign.

2000s[edit]

The golden age of Biden and his gaffes begins here.

"I've had a great relationship. In Delaware, the largest growth of population is Indian Americans, moving from India. You cannot go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I'm not joking."
Joe to an Indian American supporter. The supporter in question later defended Biden (June 17, 2006).[4]
"I mean, you got the first mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice looking guy, ... I mean, that's a storybook man."
Joe describes Barack Obama on the same day Biden launched his own presidential campaign. He quickly apologized to Obama, but the gaffe damaged his campaign. (January 31, 2007)[5]
"A man I'm proud to call my friend. A man who will be the next President of the United States — Barack America!"
Who better to be POTUS than Barack America? (23 August, 2008)[6]
"I'm told Chuck Graham, state senator, is here. Stand up Chuck, let 'em see you. Oh, God love you. What am I talking about. I'll tell you what, you're making everybody else stand up, though, pal."
Joe tells a Missouri state senator to stand up before realizing that he is confined to a wheelchair (September 9, 2008).[7]
"Hillary Clinton is as qualified or more qualified than I am to be Vice President of the United States of America... Quite frankly, it might have been a better pick than me. But she's first rate."
Joe accidentally says that Hillary Clinton would've been a better pick for Vice President than him (September 20, 2008).[8]
"Look, John's last-minute economic plan does nothing to tackle the number-one job facing the middle class, and it happens to be, as Barack says, a three-letter word
jobs. J-O-B-S, jobs.
"J-O-B-S" is a four-letter word (October 15, 2008).[9]
"Jill and I had the great honor of standing on that stage, looking across at one of the great justices, Justice Stewart."
After being sworn in as Vice President by Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens (January 20, 2009).[9]
"Am I doing this again? ... My memory is not as good as Justice Roberts'."
Upon realizing that he was also supposed to administer the presidential oath to Barack Obama (January 21, 2009).[10]
"If we do everything right, if we do it with absolute certainty, there's still a 30% chance we're going to get it wrong."
Joe fails to project confidence in the Democratic Party's proposed $900 billion dollar stimulus package (February 6, 2009).[11]

2010s[edit]

"Barack Obama is the first African-American in the history of the United States of America."
Another barrier broken by Barack Obama (March 17, 2010).[12]
"The Taoiseach knows a lot about it, his mom lived in Long Island for 10 years or so, God rest her soul and—although, she's … wait, your mom's still, your mom's still alive—your dad passed. … God bless her soul! I gotta' get this straight!"
Biden briefly mourns the Irish prime minister's still-living mother (also March 17, 2010).[12]
"This is a big fucking deal."
Accidentally speaking too loud near a live mic during the signing ceremony of the Affordable Care Act (23 March, 2010).[13]
"I've been sleeping with a teacher for a long time. But it's always been the same teacher."
Taking the opportunity to remind us that he fucks his wife during the National Teacher of the Year celebration (April 26, 2010).[14]
"I never had an interest in being a mayor 'cause that's a real job. You have to produce. That's why I was able to be a senator for 36 years."
Joe was a little too honest there (March 29, 2012).[15]
"I promise you, the president has a big stick. I promise you."
One letter away from greatness. But still pretty great (April 26, 2012).[16]
"Folks, I can tell you I've known eight presidents, three of them intimately."
...Joe? (August 22, 2012)[17]

2019[edit]

Biden's return to the spotlight during his run for the Democratic nomination led to yet more gaffes.

"We choose unity over division, we choose science over fiction, we choose truth over facts!"
During a speech at the Iowa State Fair (August 8, 2019).[18]
"Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids."
Biden to a town hall of minority voters (August 9, 2019).[19]
"I want to be clear, I'm not going nuts. I'm not sure whether it was the medical school or where the hell I spoke. But it was on the campus."
After forgetting which building he was speaking in at a college (August 24, 2019).[20]
"The details are irrelevant in terms of decision-making."
After telling a wildly inaccurate version of a soldier's war story at a town hall meeting (September 3, 2019).[21].
"But if Donald Hump... Donald Trump is reelected, Freudian slip."
Misspeaking Donald Trump's last name at a Democratic convention (September 7, 2019).[22]

2020[edit]

As the presidential election heated up and Biden was speaking more frequently, the pace at which he made gaffes ramped up.

"One of the things I'm proudest of is getting passed, getting moved, getting in control of the Paris Climate Accord, I'm the guy who came back after meeting with Deng Xiaoping and making the case that I believe China will join if we put pressure on them. We got almost 200 nations to join."
Biden confusing Xi Jinping, the current president of China, with Deng Xiaoping, former paramount leader of China who died in 1997.(February 24, 2020)[23]
"Where I come from, you don’t go very far unless you ask. My name’s Joe Biden. I'm a Democratic candidate for the United States Senate."
Seems like Joe thought it was 1972 for a second there, although the video was unfairly edited (February 24, 2020).[24]
"Imagine if I said we give immunity to drug companies, we give immunity to tobacco companies. That has caused carnage on our streets. One hundred and fifty million people have been killed since 2007 when Bernie voted to exempt the gun manufacturers from liability. More than all the wars."
Biden claims that 150 million Americans died from gun violence since 2007.[25]
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men and women were created by the go-, uh, you know the, you know the thing!"
Joe tries and fails to quote the Declaration of Independence (March 2, 2020).[26]
"If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black."
This one got him in big trouble (May 22, 2020).[27]
"We have put together, I think, the most extensive and inclusive voter fraud organization in the history of American politics."
During the Pod Save America podcast, likely meaning to say "voter protection" (October 24, 2020).[28]

2021[edit]

Given that the president is expected to give public addresses, it's no surprise that Biden's gaffes continued into his presidency.

"...so I want to thank you both, and I want to thank the secretary, the former general - I keep calling him general - my... my, er... the guy who runs that outfit over there."
Forgetting the name of his Secretary of Defense during an International Women's Day address (March 8, 2021).[29]
"Visit vaccines.gum or text to your... text your zip code."
Mispronouncing vaccines.gov and then stumbling over his instructions. (May 4, 2021)[30]
"Since January 20 and we're talking now about 15 months ago, the average daily cases are down from 184,000 to 19,000
During a COVID press conference, but he was only president for 5 months at that point. (June 4, 2021)[31]
"...all kidding aside, of course, President Harris, who’s a proud Howard alum, she might have something to say about Delaware State."
President who? (December 20, 2021)[32]

2022[edit]

"Putin may circle Kyiv, but he'll never win the hearts of the Iranian people."
During his first State of the Union address confusing Ukrainians with Iranians. (March 1, 2022)[33]
"America is a nation that can be defined in a single word
*gibberish*"
On the confirmation of Justice Jackson (April 8, 2022).[34]
"Jackie, are you here? Where's Jackie? I didn't think she was – she wasn't going to be here."
Biden tries to call out Representative Jackie Walorski (R-IN), who died in a car wreck in August 2022 (September 28, 2022).[35]
"That's why we defeated it in 2018 when they tried to do it. We went to 54 states."
How many states? (October 30, 2022)[36]

2023[edit]

"[Rob Kearney] was a hell of a rugby player, and he beat the hell out of the Black and Tans."
In an Irish pub, confusing New Zealand's All Blacks rugby team with Britain's brutal paramilitary force during the Irish War of Independence, the Black and Tans (April 12, 2023).[37]
"[Nancy Pelosi] helped rescue the economy in the Great Depression."
He either meant to say "Great Recession," or the American gerontocracy problem is much, much worse than we thought. (May 16, 2023)[38]
"It's hard to tell really. But [Putin is] clearly losing the war in Iraq."
At a press conference, meaning to say Ukraine (June 28, 2023).[39]
"God Save the Queen, man."
Biden confuses a crowd by referencing Queen Elizabeth II, who had died almost a year ago, in a speech that had nothing to do with the UK (July 5, 2023).[40]

2024[edit]

"[A]nd I sat down and said 'America's back', and Mitterand, from Germany, I mean, from France, looked at me and said, uh, said, y'know, wh-, why, how, how long you back for?"
Not only confusing Emmanuel Macron with Francois Mitterand, who died in 1996, at the G7 summit in 2021, and confusing France with Germany, but apparently forgetting what precisely he was trying to say in the first place (February 4, 2024).[41]
"The president of Mexico did not want to open up the gate to allow humanitarian material to get in. I talked to him. I convinced to open the gate.... I've been pushing really hard, really hard to get humanitarian assistance into Gaza."
Joe mixes up Mexico and Egypt (February 6, 2024).[42]
"And then Helmut Kohl turned to me and said, ‘What would you say, Mr. President, if you picked up the London Times and learned that a thousand people had broken down the doors of the British Parliament, killed some bobbies on the way in, to deny the prime minister to take office.'"
Confusing Angela Merkel with former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who died in 2017, about the U.S. Capitol riot, which happened in 2021. (February 7, 2024)[43]
"We finally beat Medicare."
During the infamous first presidential debate of 2024 (June 27, 2024)[44]
"Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin. President Putin? President Zelensky. I'm so focused on beating Putin."
Joe introduces President Zelensky to the NATO Summit as "President Putin," causing gasps in the audience (July 11, 2024).[45]
"Look, I wouldn't have picked Vice President Trump to be Vice President did I think she was not qualified to be president."
Vice President who? (July 11, 2024)[46]
"Tomorrow, I’m doing 9/11."
Joe was going to a commemoration event, but he said it in the worst possible way (September 10, 2024).[47]

References[edit]

  1. Darman, Jonathan (2007-01-31). "At War With His Mouth". Newsweek.
  2. Somvichian-Clausen, Austa (2019-11-22). "Are Joe Biden's gaffes related to a lifelong stuttering problem?". The Hill.
  3. Risen, James (1987-09-13). "No Time to Cite Source, He Says : Biden Stirs Row by Using Lines From Briton's Talk". Los Angeles Times.
  4. "Biden explains Indian-American remarks". NBC News. 2006-07-07.
  5. Gregory, David (2007-02-01). "Sen. Biden apologizes for remarks on Obama". NBC News.
  6. "Biden's "Barack" Bungle". TIME.com. 2008-08-23.
  7. Smith, Ben (2025-01-27). "An awkward moment in Columbia". POLITICO.
  8. Corsaro, Ryan (2008-09-10). "Biden Says Hillary Might Be A Better VP". CBS News.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Rayfield, Jillian (2012-09-07). "Get excited for Joe Biden's speech with 10 of his gaffes". Salon.
  10. Good, Chris (2009-01-21). "Biden Jokes about Roberts's Memory".
  11. "Top 10 Joe Biden Gaffes". TIME.com. 2010-03-23.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Stahl, Jeremy (2010-03-19). "Bidenisms: A collection of the vice president's gaffes and head-slappers". Slate Magazine.
  13. Adams, Richard (2010-03-23). "Joe Biden: 'This is a big fucking deal'". the Guardian.
  14. Rich, Elizabeth (2010-04-27). "Joe Biden Sleeps With a Teacher". Education Week.
  15. Bendery, Jennifer (2012-03-30). "Joe Biden: If We Lose Election, It Could Be To 'Barrage Of Super PAC Money'". HuffPost.
  16. Abad-Santos, Alexander (2012-04-26). "Biden Probably Won't Be Mentioning Obama's 'Big Stick' Again". The Atlantic.
  17. Simon, Scott (2021-01-23). "Opinion: Joe Biden's Lifetime Of Experience". NPR.
  18. Emery, David (2023-01-16). "Did Biden Say 'We Choose Truth Over Facts'?". Snopes.
  19. "Biden in Iowa says 'poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids'". NBC News. 2019-08-09.
  20. Manchester, Julia (2019-08-26). "Biden tells supporters: 'I'm not going nuts'". The Hill.
  21. Khalid, Asma (2019-09-03). "'Details Are Irrelevant': Biden Says Verbal Slip-Ups Don't Undermine His Judgment : The NPR Politics Podcast". NPR.
  22. Russo, Amy (2019-09-07). "Joe Biden Mispronounces Donald Trump's Name In 'Freudian Slip'". HuffPost.
  23. https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-claims-worked-2016-paris-climate-deal-chinese-leader-deng-xiaoping-died-1997-1488915
  24. Sadeghi, McKenzie (2020-10-19). "Fact check: Viral video of Joe Biden is missing context". USA TODAY.
  25. Vigdor, Neil (2020-02-26). "Bernie Sanders, Confronted on Immunity for Gun Manufacturers, Says That Was a 'Bad Vote'". The New York Times.
  26. Betz, Bradford (2020-03-03). "Joe Biden botches Declaration of Independence quote during Texas rally". FOX 32 Chicago.
  27. Eric Bradner, Sarah Mucha,Arlette Saenz (2020-05-22). "Biden: 'If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black". CNN.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. "Fact check: Clip of Biden taken out of context to portray him as plotting a voter fraud scheme". Reuters. 2020-10-29.
  29. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vw5nSewF6E
  30. The White House (2021-05-04). "Remarks by President Biden on the COVID-19 Response and the Vaccination Program". The White House.
  31. "Biden blunders again, thinks he's been president for '15 months'". theaustralian. 2021-06-03.
  32. "Joe Biden refers to Kamala Harris as 'President Harris' in verbal gaffe". The Indian Express. 2021-12-20.
  33. Contreras, Russell (2022-03-02). "Biden calls Ukrainians "Iranians" during State of the Union". Axios.
  34. "Clip: America is a Nation that Can be Defined in a Single Word". C-SPAN.org. 2022-04-11.
  35. Garrison, Joey (2022-09-28). "Biden mistakenly calls out recently deceased congresswoman". USA TODAY.
  36. Soni, Mallika (2022-10-30). "Watch: Gaffe-prone Joe Biden says he campaigned in 54 US states. There are…50". Hindustan Times.
  37. Ibrahim, Nur (2023-04-13). "Did Biden Confuse 'All Blacks' Rugby Team with 'Black and Tans' Paramilitary Force?". Snopes.
  38. "Remarks by President Biden at the 2023 We Are EMILY Gala", The White House, 2023-05-17
  39. In verbal slip, Biden says Putin losing the war in 'Iraq' Reuters
  40. Speakman, Kimberlee (2023-06-17). "President Joe Biden Causes Confusion After Signing Off Gun Control Speech with 'God Save the Queen'". People.com.
  41. "In his second mix-up this week, Biden talks about meeting with dead European leaders". NBC News. 2024-02-08.
  42. Bedigan, Mike (2024-02-09). "Biden mixes up Mexico and Egypt at surprise presser to address claims of memory loss". The Independent.
  43. Biden now claims he spoke to second dead European leader in gaffe-prone campaign week, The Independent
  44. At debate, Biden meant to say he had beaten ‘big pharma,’ not Medicare, AP News
  45. Zurcher, Anthony (2024-07-12). "Biden stands firm on critical night". BBC Home.
  46. Biden loses his train of thought, calls Harris ‘Vice President Trump’ in solo press conference, CNBC
  47. Kelly, Kieran (2024-09-11). "Watch: Biden says he's going to 'do 9/11' in latest gaffe". The Telegraph.