During a campaign rally in Tampa, Joe Biden inadvertently created a stir with a slip of the tongue while aiming to criticize 45th President Donald Trump’s stance on abortion. The rally, which took place on Tuesday, was centered around Florida’s impending six-week abortion ban set to commence on May 1. While attempting to underscore Trump’s anti-abortion position, Biden misspoke in a way that left the audience both amused and bemused.
In his speech, Biden quipped, “I don’t know why we’re surprised by Trump. How many times does he have to prove we can’t be trusted?” This unintended error quickly became the focal point among audiences and commentators alike, as Biden appeared to suggest his own untrustworthiness rather than Trump’s.
The misstatement did not go unnoticed on social media, where conservative pundits had a field day. Seth Dillon, CEO of the Babylon Bee, remarked on the authenticity of the gaffe, saying, “Not satire.” Tomi Lahren from OutKick chimed in humorously, “Well even a blind squirrel finds a nut.” Fox News contributor Guy Benson simply found the comment delightful: “god, that’s good.”
Others took a more critical stance, with RedState columnist Buzz Patterson advising, “If they tell you who they are, believe them,” and GOP strategist Chris LaCivita predicting the repeated emergence of this gaffe: “You’ll see this again and again and again…..” Radio host Tony Kinnett even joked about Biden inadvertently endorsing Trump due to his verbal slips.
Edward Dowd, an author, summed up a sentiment of skepticism about Biden’s capacity, describing him as “a perfect puppet in the seat of the president right now. He can’t remember the lies handed to him and most of his supporters can’t remember what they ate for lunch. Memories of goldfish…of course no disrespect to goldfish.” Jake Schneider, GOP Rapid Response Director, concurred with Biden’s self-assessment: “Agreed, Joe — you can’t be trusted!”
This incident at the Tampa rally was just one of several gaffes Biden made over the week. On Monday, he addressed the ongoing anti-Israel protests across college campuses, where he tried to strike a balance but ended up being criticized for his ambiguous stance, which some likened to his “Charlottesville moment.” Referring to past controversial comments by Trump, Biden said, “I condemn the antisemitic protests. That’s why I have set up a program to deal with that. I also condemn those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”
Moreover, in another confusing moment during his campaign, Biden urged voters to “choose freedom over democracy,” adding to the string of verbal blunders: “Are you ready to choose unity over division? Dignity over demolition? Truth over lies? Are you ready to choose freedom over democracy? Because that’s America.” These episodes highlight the ongoing challenges Biden faces as he navigates the complex landscape of political rhetoric on the campaign trail.