Joe Biden is currently facing backlash after remarks he made at the funeral of Jesse Jackson in Illinois sparked criticism online. While speaking to a predominantly Black audience at the service, Biden addressed the crowd but was accused by some viewers of not choosing his words carefully, leading to claims that the comment came across as insensitive.
While speaking, Joe Biden told the audience that if he had said he grew up with a cleft palate or a club foot, they likely would not laugh. He then added that people sometimes feel comfortable laughing at his stutter. What he said next drew immediate attention: “I’m a hell of a lot smarter than most of you!” Some people in the crowd appeared to laugh, suggesting he may have intended the remark as a joke. Still, many critics online argued that making a comment like that to a predominantly Black audience was inappropriate and could easily be interpreted as offensive.
This is also not the first time Joe Biden has faced accusations of making racially insensitive remarks. Critics have pointed to previous statements, including comments referenced by The Heritage Foundation, which argued that Biden once addressed concerns some Black Americans may have about vaccines by referencing past medical abuses. According to the group, he said, “They are used to being experimented on—the Tuskegee Airmen and others.” The comment drew criticism because it appeared to confuse the Tuskegee Syphilis Study with the Tuskegee Airmen, two very different historical subjects. Critics said the mix-up was troubling, given the sensitive history involved.
The Heritage Foundation also pointed to another incident involving Joe Biden. According to the group, a Black reporter once asked Biden whether he had taken a cognitive test. Biden reacted strongly to the question and turned it back on the reporter. “That’s like saying you . . . before you got in this program, you’re take [sic] a test whether you’re taking cocaine or not? What do you think? Huh? Are you a junkie?” he allegedly said at the time. The remark drew criticism from some observers who felt the response was unnecessarily confrontational.
People Reacting to Joe Biden’s Comment at the Illinois Funeral
Many people online said they believed the remark made by Joe Biden at the funeral of Jesse Jackson in Illinois was clear evidence of racism. “Democrats will excuse Joe Biden’s racism at every turn,” one person wrote. Others disagreed, arguing that the moment was being taken out of context. One commenter responded, “Why you trying to make it a racial issue? It’s not one. The specific quote was, ‘I’m a hell of a lot smarter than most of you,’ which he said while recounting his childhood struggle with a stutter. He said it to make a point. No one took it wrong but you MAGAs like u did Newsom.” Still, critics continued to attack the comment. One person wrote, “Shameless Biden at Jackson’s funeral: ‘Smarter than most of you’? The ‘unifier’ dividing again. History’s divider-in-chief!” The reactions showed how sharply divided people were over how to interpret the moment.
More critics continued calling Joe Biden a racist after the remarks circulated online. One person wrote, “He’s still racist gibberish Joe hahaha.” Another added, “They could do a whole Seventh Sense movie where Biden ‘sees black people’ and just repeats the racist [expletive] he’s already said on camera over the decades… I swear, @TheDemocrats are the most openly racist group of folks in the country as a whole.” Someone else went even further, saying, “Probably one of the most racist person that’s been in power since David Duke.”
That comment prompted a response from a user on X, who wrote, “Indeed! But it’s shameful how democrats would give this gaffe machine a public audience they know would make a mockery of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson’s funeral. Disgusting in every way. P.S. Biden,I’m a stutterer and NEVER was I thought stupid. Stop the excuses, you were never smart.” The comments reflected just how strongly some people reacted to the moment and how quickly the debate spread online.
