Biden inaccurately says 6,000 US armed forces members died from Covid-19, accidentally cites Michigan numbers
Joe Biden fumbled COVID-19 numbers during a campaign stop in Michigan, this time incorrectly stating that over 6,000 U.S. military members had died from the novel coronavirus.
The Democratic presidential nominee was speaking in Warren, Michigan when he said the armed forces had seen 118,984 COVID-19 cases and 6,114 deaths -- mistakenly citing the number of confirmed cases and deaths in Michigan.
Biden's campaign clarified just moments after the event that the former vice president had mixed up the numbers for Michigan with those for the military. In reality, only seven members of the armed forces have succumbed to the deadly virus as of Wednesday.
"Vice President Biden has the utmost respect for the men and women of the armed services and believes it's the sacred duty of our country to properly equip them, look after their families when they're deployed, and care for them when they return,” Biden’s Deputy Rapid Response Director Michael Gwin said in a statement to Fox News.
“To honor their service, the Vice President carries with him each day a card detailing the number of Americans who have given their lives for our country in Iraq and Afghanistan, and frequently cites that number to recognize their sacrifice," Gwin added.
This is not the first time Biden has confused statistics related to the coronavirus pandemic.
In June, the former VP incorrectly stated there were a staggering 120 million fatalities from the contagion in the U.S.
“People don’t have a job, people don’t know where to go, they don’t know what to do,” Biden said at the time. “Now we have over 120 million dead from COVID.”
Trump's campaign was quick to jump on the Democratic nominee's comment. “Joe Biden is very confused,” the campaign said at the time. “He's not playing with a full deck, folks.”
Biden's frequent slip-ups and misstatements throughout the campaign trail has granted the Trump campaign quite the fodder to argue that the presumptive Democratic nominee is unfit for the Oval Office. Unsurprisingly, social media was also quick to pounce on Biden's latest gaffe.
"Yesterday he states 6000 soldiers died of Covid looking like a confused old man He missed the truth by 5993 I mean we can go back and forth if you want to play that game. I wonder if Biden even knows who Kim Jin Un even is ??!?" one user tweeted.
Yesterday he states 6000 soldiers died of Covid looking like a confused old man
— Eddie 🐊🐊 (@gatorpow) September 10, 2020
He missed the truth by 5993
I mean we can go back and forth if you want to play that game.
I wonder if Biden even knows who Kim Jin Un even is ??!?
"So, Biden evidently claimed 6000 military have died from Covid 19. Actually only 7 have died! Sadly, he is like a wind-up toy that must be programmed and is unable to grasp the words issuing from it. Even more sad is his family allowing his public mistakes and his embarrassment," another added.
So, Biden evidently claimed 6000 military have died from Covid 19. Actually only 7 have died! Sadly, he is like a wind-up toy that must be programmed and is unable to grasp the words issuing from it. Even more sad is his family allowing his public mistakes and his embarrassment.
— Patricia Murphy (@OneAmazedHuman) September 10, 2020
"Joe Biden said 6000 military personnel were killed from covid19 a mistake so huge he should be disqualified. On top of all the countless gaffes and lies he is weak ignorant and facing his own health decline. If you don’t know to vote for Trump then you ain’t an American," a third user chimed in.
Joe Biden said 6000 military personnel were killed from covid19 a mistake so huge he should be disqualified. On top of all the countless gaffes and lies he is weak ignorant and facing his own health decline. If you don’t know to vote for Trump then you ain’t an American.
— Lucky Lindy⭐️⭐️⭐️🇺🇸 (@LuckyLindy19) September 10, 2020