OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
President Joe Biden made another odd, off-color reference to supporters of former President Donald Trump just days after appearing to call them “garbage” during a video town hall.
“But I’m serious, these are the kinds of guys you’d like to smack in the a**,” Biden said of “MAGA Republicans” during a campaign event for his vice president, Kamala Harris.
The president’s comments went viral on social media, with one conservative pundit describing his contribution to the Harris-Walz Campaign as “the gift that keeps on giving.”
WATCH:
Biden on Republicans: “these are the kind of guys you’d like to smack in the ass.”
In 1 week we were called Nazis, garbage, weak, and dumb and now the President is sharing his fantasy about using physical force.pic.twitter.com/aUyUW16lQ6
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 3, 2024
Biden quickly walked back his “garbage” comment.
“Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage—which is the only word I can think of to describe it,” said an X post as outrage over his statement mounted. “His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That’s all I meant to say. The comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation.”
The White House has tried to assert that Biden was only referring to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe in relation to his joke about Puerto Rico, even going so far as to edit the official transcript to include an apostrophe. This alteration was made despite objections from the White House stenographer’s office.
Several people, especially liberals, heavily criticized the remark.
“Biden’s verbal gaffe (if that’s what it was) is an absolute nightmare for Harris campaign,” CNN’s Chris Cillizza wrote in an X post. “This is getting more attention than Harris’ closing argument speech.”
Frank Luntz, a pollster and communications expert, said on CNN that the comment would have a “huge” effect and could be the “turning point” that leads to former President Donald Trump’s victory in the race.
“It’s going to be huge because this is not some comedian saying something stupid and offensive at a rally where he should have been just basically disinvited. This is the president of the United States endorsing his vice president, saying something — and I know that there’s different interpretations about what he said — it’s still inappropriate. He still shouldn’t be doing it,” Luntz said.
“I’ve watched Trump already seize this. The ‘basket of deplorables’ was significant, was meaningful in 2016. In 2024, I can promise you that this is going to drive Trump turnout. And he’s doing it already. I can see — I’m sure there’s going to be ads on as soon as tonight about this,” he continued.
Luntz added, “This may be a turning point for those final 3% — and that’s all it is — who still need to be persuaded.”
The communications expert went on to note that while “Trump offends” persuadable voters, who “don’t like him as a person,” “Harris “scares them because they don’t know where she stands.”
WATCH:
FRANK LUNTZ: Joe Biden might’ve cost Kamala Harris the election by labeling his supporters “garbage”
H/T: @EndWokeness pic.twitter.com/uM5flUEHAR
— Martin Walsh (@MWalshUS) October 30, 2024
Trump immediately responded to Biden’s remark: “Wow, that’s what [Biden] says… garbage. I think it’s worse [than deplorable].”
The former president was referencing his 2016 Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, in which she called Trump’s supporters during his first run for office a “basket of deplorables.”
“Please forgive him for he knoweth not what he say. Honestly, he doesn’t. And I’m convinced that he likes me more than he likes Kamala,” Trump said, referring to Biden’s declining mental abilities.
“No!” the crowd shouted back at Trump.
