At a Biden rally, the crowd booed when President Joe Biden criticized the press for “hammering him” over “mixing up names” while they give former President Donald Trump a “free pass” for worse behavior.
Biden held a press conference on Thursday evening amid calls for him to drop out after his debate performance, which many viewed as a pivotal moment. Despite making a notable gaffe by referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump” in response to the first question, Biden performed well enough to earn praise from some skeptics.
At a rally in Detroit, Michigan on Friday night, Biden addressed this gaffe, contrasting it with what he considers worse mistakes made by Trump, which he claims the press overlooks. He mentioned Trump’s bizarre comments about sharks and Hannibal Lecter as examples.
The crowd booed the press, but Biden predicted they would start focusing more on Trump’s missteps:
Biden remarked that if the situation weren’t so serious, it would be like a made-up novel. He acknowledged that the press has been critical of him since the debate for occasionally confusing names, while Trump has been given a free pass for much worse. Biden highlighted Trump’s previous comments, such as calling Putin a genius and discussing his fear of sharks.
Despite the press’s focus on his name mix-ups, Biden emphasized his accomplishments, such as strengthening and expanding NATO, and criticized the media for not holding Trump accountable for his comments. He urged the crowd to shine a spotlight on Trump and predicted that the press would soon follow suit.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: You know, if it wasn’t so serious. It all means people are like a made up novel would happen. No, I’m not complaining. I’m just saying. You may have noticed that since the debate, the press and there good guys and women up there. They’ve been hammering me!
CROWD: (Jeers and booing).
I make a lot of mistakes. No, no, I.
CROWD: (Jeering continues).
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: No, no, no! That’s okay! They’ve been hammering me because I sometimes confuse names. I say that’s Charlie instead of Bil.
But guess what? Donald Trump has gotten a free pass. Yeah. He hadn’t done a damn thing till, like, a couple days ago. He’d ride around his golf course, golf cart and his course, filling out a scorecard before he picks up his club–.
Rambling about — take a look at the things he’s been talking about. Hannibal Lecter. He says he’s a nice guy.
Trump would rather be electrocuted than eaten by shark! And that whole thing. Remember that? Poor Donald! He can’t even watch TV this week because a shark week.
CROWD: (laugher and applause).
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: And by the way. On a more serious note. No. I had 32 members of the of the and mostly from Europe, but 32 members of NATO in Washington.
And by the way and the press has covered this. They give me credit for strengthening NATO, expanding and making the what you do. This is deadly earnest.
And that butcher Putin, who I know have known for a long time. When he invaded Ukraine. Here’s what Trump said. I’m not making this up either. He called him a genius and said it was wonderful!
What in the hell is going on?
But people would rather talk about how I mix up names. I guess they don’t remember the Trump called Nikki Haley, Nancy Pelosi. Well, no. No more!
CROWD: (CHEERS)
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: Donald! No more free passes. Today we’re going to shine a spotlight on Donald Trump. We’re going to do what the press so far hasn’t. I think they’re going to soon.
