President Joe Biden stumbled over his words on Thursday during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid in which Biden was awarded Israel’s Presidential Medal of Honor in recognition of 50 years of service to the country in his career as a politician.
“I have had the honor – It’s hard to say these words, for over 50 years — I can’t be that long, but uh, for over 50 years in the federal government to helping build relationship [sic],” Biden declared during his speech in Israel.
“America’s commitment to Israel’s security remains ironclad, today and in the future,” Biden said. adding, “That commitment is not about me or any other American president. It springs from a deep affinity and enduring connection between our peoples.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog lauded Biden’s “uncompromising decades long commitment to Israel’s security.”
BIDEN: "It's hard to say these words — for over 50 years — I can't be that long" pic.twitter.com/ao5X8HHVFC
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 14, 2022
Biden revealed on Tuesday that every time he hears the US presidential anthem “Hail to the Chief” he starts wondering “where the hell” is the Chief in question (“Chief” is supposed to refer to the President himself).
“Well folks, uh, you don’t have to stand, every time I hear ‘Hail to the Chief’ I wonder ‘where the hell is he?’” Biden announced to the audience. “Took me a long while.”
“You think I’m joking, I’m not,” Biden clarified. “I turn around and [say], ‘Where, where, where’s the President?’”
Biden’s clarification is especially important because aides and corporate journalists often rush to Twitter to claim that he is just “joking” when he delivers a strange line or indulges in a trademark verbal gaffe.
Last Friday, Biden read “repeat the line” off his teleprompter during a speech. The moment quickly went viral and provoked protective rage from corporate journalists.
