In a shocking and unexpected turn of events, former President Joe Biden is under fire after accidentally uttering a controversial slang version of a racial slur during a live-streamed charity event. The incident, which occurred during a virtual fundraiser for children’s literacy programs, has ignited a firestorm of reactions from across the political spectrum, with President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Barack Obama all weighing in.
The Incident
The former president was engaging in lighthearted banter with a group of online influencers when he stumbled over his words while recalling a personal anecdote. Attempting to repeat a phrase he claimed to have heard from a staffer, Biden accidentally let slip a casual variation of the N-word, immediately causing visible shock among his co-hosts. The livestream was quickly cut to a “technical difficulties” screen, but the clip had already begun circulating across social media.
Within minutes, #BidenGate and #SayItAintJoe were trending worldwide on X (formerly Twitter).
White House Reaction
President Trump wasted no time addressing the controversy, taking to his Truth Social platform to respond:
“This is what happens when you let Sleepy Joe off the teleprompter! Disgraceful. The Fake News will try to cover for him, but if I had said it, they’d have thrown me in jail! SAD!”
At a press briefing later that afternoon, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the controversy head-on:
“We all know Joe Biden has a long history of racially insensitive remarks, and this is just the latest example. While the mainstream media will try to downplay it, President Trump remains committed to uplifting all Americans, regardless of race, and ensuring that leaders are held accountable for their words and actions.”
Elon Musk, AOC, and Obama Respond
Tech mogul Elon Musk, never one to stay silent on trending issues, commented on X:
“Biden accidentally said the quiet part out loud. AI Joe coming soon?”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took a much harsher tone, blasting Biden’s remark as unacceptable:
“This is beyond disappointing. Language like this, even ‘accidental,’ is a symptom of deep systemic problems. And yet, there will be no consequences—because power protects power.”
Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama issued a measured response, attempting to downplay the controversy but still acknowledging the mistake:
“Look, we’ve all made mistakes in how we express ourselves, but words carry weight. I know Joe, and I know he didn’t mean any harm. That being said, this is a reminder that we all need to be mindful of the language we use, regardless of intent.”
Biden’s Attempted Damage Control
Hours after the backlash, Biden’s team released a statement, claiming the former president simply “misspoke” and was trying to repeat a phrase someone else had used. Biden himself took to the airwaves in a hasty video apology:
“Look, folks, I, uh… I didn’t mean to offend anybody. That’s not who I am, that’s not what I stand for. I was trying to say something else, and, uh, it just came out wrong.”
However, critics argue that the damage is already done, with political opponents and activists demanding further action. Some have called for Biden to be dropped from speaking engagements, while others believe this will be swept under the rug by friendly media outlets.
What’s Next?
With President Trump set to address the controversy at an upcoming rally, the fallout from this scandal is far from over. Whether this marks a serious blow to Biden’s post-presidency reputation or fades into the news cycle remains to be seen. One thing is certain, though: the former president’s words will be replayed, analyzed, and debated for weeks to come.
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