President Joe Biden’s trip to Japan for the Group of Seven (G7) meeting featured gaffes that are now being shared and mocked on social media.
“Early Sunday, the Republican National Committee (RNC) research account shared a clip of Biden stumbling over his words as he discussed the debt ceiling during a press conference at the summit in Hiroshima,” Newsweek reported.
Typically, a public speaker stumbling over his or her words wouldn’t generate so much attention.
But Joe Biden is the leader of the free world – who happens to be 80 years old.
No points
The clip in question can be viewed here.
In the video, Biden loses his train of thought and strings together a handful of sentences that are seemingly unrelated to one another.
“And there’s a lot of other … For example, the idea that we’re … in terms of taxes that they refuse to … for example, we, I was able to balance the budget and pass everything from the global warming bill anyway, I was able to cut by $1.7 billion in the first two years the deficit that we are, were accumulating and because I was able to say to that the fifty-five corporations in America that made forty-four hundred billion dollars or forty billion dollars, four hundred billion dollars, that they they pay zero in tax, zero.”
I have to say, the first thing that comes to mind while watching the clip is a scene from “Billy Madison” in which Adam Sandler’s titular character attempts to explain the industrial revolution during a moderated debate.
The moderator responds to Madison’s long-winded answer with: “Mr. Madison, what you have just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul.”
Joe Biden Gaffes overblown?
Biden’s incoherent answer wasn’t the only G7 moment making the rounds on social media.
Biden also referred to South Korea’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, as President Loon.
Lastly, Biden stumbled on a set of stairs. Neither gaffe is an especially big deal.
And, on its own, Biden’s rambling speech isn’t a big deal either. But when the guy giving the speech or stumbling or misnaming a President is 80 years old – planning to run for reelection – and is facing persistent questions about his mental fitness, the gaffes are going to mean more and resonate further.
The simple fact is that U.S. voters are concerned with Biden’s age and abilities.
Although Biden has declared himself healthy and ready for another presidential campaign and another term in office, he is already the oldest person ever to serve as president.
And he looks it. Biden just isn’t as sharp or as articulate as he used to be throughout his fifty years of public service. To most observers, when Biden speaks, he sounds like someone who is slipping, which is understandable for an 80-year-old.
But Biden is the President of the United States and the public expects, reasonably, for him to be sharp. That he is clearly not sharp makes people uncomfortable and the result is a mockery on Twitter.
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Harrison Kass is the Senior Editor at 19FortyFive. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
