President Biden declared Sunday that things got “kind of bad” when he was vice president during the COVID-19 pandemic — even though the virus hit more than three years after he left office.
The 81-year-old Biden, who finished his eight years as Barack Obama’s veep in January 2017, suggested he was still in post at the time of the outbreak during a campaign event with the NAACP.
“When I was vice president, things were kind of bad during the pandemic and what happened was, Barack said to me, ‘Go to Detroit! Help fix it,’” Biden said.
“Well, the poor mayor, he’s spent more time with me than he ever thought he’s gonna have to!” the president added.
It is unclear what event Biden was actually referring to in his remarks, though the then-VP claimed in 2011 the Obama administration had saved America’s auto industry from “the brink of extinction” following the 2008 financial crisis.
Biden’s most recent blunder followed his commencement speech at Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he was caught on camera applauding the valedictorian who called for an “immediate and a permanent cease-fire” in his speech.
The president has pressed for a respite in the fighting in Gaza but has held steady in his support for Israel in its war against Hamas — something that has roiled many progressives.
Ahead of Biden’s remarks, some faculty and students at the historically black, all-male institution vowed not to attend the ceremony in protest.
Others turned their backs to the commander in chief as he spoke of the ongoing conflict.
“I support peaceful, nonviolent protest,” Biden told the graduates, prompting several to turn to face away from him.
“Your voices should be heard. I promise you I hear them,” he insisted to the students, many of whom had a kaffiyeh, a traditional scarf associated with the Palestinians, draped over their shoulders.
Biden then addressed the crisis head-on, telling graduates: “It’s a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, that’s why I’ve called for an immediate cease-fire — an immediate cease-fire to stop the fighting, bring the hostages home and I’ve been working on a deal as we speak.”
“I know it angers and frustrates many of you, including in my family,” he added.
Biden then addressed the crisis head-on, telling graduates: “It’s a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, that’s why I’ve called for an immediate cease-fire — an immediate cease-fire to stop the fighting, bring the hostages home and I’ve been working on a deal as we speak.”
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Biden’s visit to Morehouse marked his first trip to a college campus since anti-Israel protests began popping up on campuses across the country in mid-April, though demonstrations at Morehouse were generally more tame than those at other schools, like Columbia University.
Biden’s weekend events took place as polls suggest he is losing support among black Americans.
A recent survey conducted by Pew Research Center found that only a slim majority (55%) of black voters approve of his job performance, while in 2020, 95% of black women and 87% of black men voted for Biden, according to Pew.