President Biden faced some backlash on Thursday for a claim he made during a fundraising event in San Francisco. The president asserted that no fewer than “nine heads of state” had approached him, telling him that he needs to win the 2024 presidential election. Notably, this statement comes as the likelihood of a rematch between Biden and former President Donald Trump continues to grow.
“As I walk out of meetings, a head of state will find an excuse to come up close … and say ‘you’ve got to win,’” Biden said. “Not because I’m so special. ‘You’ve got to win because my democracy is at stake if the other guy wins.’ Nine heads of state have done that with me,” Biden insisted.
Critics quickly took to social media to poke fun at Biden’s comments, referencing his tendency to mix up dates and events in his speeches. Many wondered if Biden was talking to living or dead heads of state, while others joked that the list probably included leaders like Putin, Xi, Raisi, and Maduro.
In gonna need to see a list because, no offense, this guy thinks its 1996 https://t.co/swmYkbdEcs
— Emily Zanotti 🦝 (@emzanotti) February 22, 2024
Living or dead? https://t.co/NCZbvb2HKE
— Jay Caruso (@JayCaruso) February 22, 2024
Biden says that nine heads of state say that he must win in November. Unfortunately, that probably includes Putin, Xi, Raisi and Maduro. https://t.co/2iSTAxiKua
— Dr. Clayton Forrester (@DrClaytonForre1) February 22, 2024
Biden’s remarks also included bashing Republicans and calling them “worse” than the “real racists” he served with in the Senate. He added, “These guys are worse. These guys do not believe in basic democratic principles.”
Biden also referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “crazy SOB” while also blaming Putin for the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death last week.
Biden is currently on a fundraising trip in California, trying to drum up support for his reelection campaign.
