Joe Biden is facing the wrath of conservatives online after he was caught on camera telling a reporter in Portland that the ‘economy is strong as hell’ – while licking away at a Baskin Robbins ice cream cone.
The president appeared unbothered by the country’s 8.2 percent inflation rate and warnings of a looming recession as he was asked about the US’ financial situation in an Oregon ice cream parlor Saturday.
Questioned if he had any worry about the strength of the US dollar amid rising inflation, the president, with a chocolate chip cone in-hand, flippantly replied: ‘I’m not concerned about the strength of the dollar. I’m concerned about the rest of the world. Our economy is strong as hell.’
The US dollar largely serves as a safe haven investment that sees inflows during times of uncertainty – meaning it will often rise in times of economic turmoil, while others, like the pound and euro, fall.
That sentiment was not lost on several pundits and political observers who viewed the clip, which has been widely shared since its recording Sunday afternoon during the head of state’s visit to the notoriously liberal city to tout the Democratic Party’s recent legislative achievements in health care.
The bizarre interaction has since gone viral, being shared thousands of times just a day after Biden, 79, drew criticism from Republicans for giving unsolicited dating advice to a young teen girl in California – much to her apparent discomfort – in an interaction that was also recorded.
The altercations, along with a litany of other gaffes in recent months, have opened Biden up to political attacks about his age, as well as accusations the president has failed to address current economic unrest, which has seen inflation rates swell and Americans’ cost-of-living seeing an even worse surge.
The president appeared unbothered by the country’s 8.2 percent inflation rate and warnings of a looming recession as he was asked about the US’ financial situation in an Oregon ice cream parlor Saturday
The altercation opened Biden up to political attacks about his age, as well as accusations the president has failed to address current economic unrest, which has seen inflation rates swell and Americans’ cost-of-living seeing an even worse surge
The incident was reminiscent of the president’s widely seen fall last in May on the stairs of Air Force One in Illinois – which itself harked back to an incident last year in Atlanta, where the president tumbled over the plane’s steps three times.
At the time, the head of state – the country’s oldest-ever – blamed the spills on strong gusts of wind.
The altercations, along with other gaffes, have opened Biden up to political attacks about his age.
In recent months, the president mistakenly stated that First Lady Biden was Obama’s vice president – a job he himself held for eight years – and call Vice President Kamala Harris ‘president’
He has also repeatedly confused countries such as Libya and Syria, and has falsely claimed that inflation seen in the US during his time in office is higher ‘everywhere’ else, as inflation rates his highs not seen in nearly half a century and economists warn of the likelihood of a looming recession.
Concerns about the president’s age were first brought up throughout his campaign against former President Donald Trump, and shortly after his election win in November 2020, Biden suffered a broken foot while playing with his dog, Major.
In November 2021, Biden underwent a colonoscopy and briefly transferred power to Vice President Kamala Harris, making her for a time the first acting female President in US History. Biden took control back after the procedure.
During the operation Biden had a small polyp on his colon removed, which was later found to be benign.
His 2019 medical examination found that he took medication for several common age-related conditions like elevated cholesterol and a minor heart arrhythmia.
Concerns over his health resurfaced in March 2021, after the Air Force One fall.
Biden gave a speech last month regarding the supply chain crunch at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University before turning his back to the audience to shake hands with nobody.
The president was likely expecting someone to appear beside him for the moment, but he remained alone on the stage, looking around, before wandering off stage.
Biden had also incorrectly stated that he had served as a ‘full professor’ at the University of Pennsylvania despite never teaching a class at the school.