President Joe Biden found himself under scrutiny once again as he reiterated a false claim about driving an 18-wheeler truck during a speech in Florida on Tuesday.
The remark, delivered at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa Bay, added to a series of gaffes that have dogged the 81-year-old leader’s tenure.
During his address, Biden said: “I used to drive an 18-wheeler,” while discussing negotiations over labour union pensions. However, his statement drew swift criticism from both CNN and conservative-leaning media outlets, reigniting scrutiny over his penchant for revisiting debunked aspects of his biography.
In response to Biden’s remark, Zach Parkinson, Director of RNC Research, highlighted a 1973 opinion piece written by Biden, then a Democratic senator, recounting a ride in a cargo truck from Delaware to Ohio.
“I made the trip because I wanted a firsthand account from the truckers, who say they carry 50 per cent of all the goods shipped within the United States. They make a case worth listening to”, Biden said at the time.
Parkinson emphasised that there is “zero evidence” to support Biden’s claim of having driven an 18-wheeler.
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Biden’s latest speech also saw him fumble while attempting to criticise his opponent, former President Donald Trump, for his stance on a contentious issue. The stumble further fueled concerns about Biden’s ability to maintain clarity and coherence in his public statements.
As the 2024 election looms, Biden’s age and the implications of his verbal miscues are increasingly under scrutiny.
Polling data suggests that a significant portion of voters harbour doubts about his ability to serve a full term, with concerns about his age and health becoming defining factors in the electoral outcome. According to a recent study, 73 percent of all registered voters believe Biden is too old to be effective.
