MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Was Joe Biden reading Trump's speech? 'Buy American' slogan sparks wild rumors: 'Where have I heard that'

The president was mocked for his call to 'buy American' as he talked about his American Jobs Plan, with social media calling it 'Trump's legacy'

President Joe Biden covered a wide range of topics in his hour-long annual address to Congress. The underlying message though seemed quite familiar for many people on social media. At various points, Biden subtly referred to the need to put America first, but nowhere was this more evident than his call to 'buy American'. 

"All the investments in the America Jobs Plan will be guided by one principle, 'buy American'," he told lawmakers at the Capitol. He added, "American tax dollars are going to be used to buy American products, made in America to create American jobs. That is the way that it is supposed to be and it will be in this administration." The calls were part of Biden's pitch to lawmakers to pass his American Jobs Plan, which would see more investment in multiple areas including healthcare, infrastructure and social security. 

RELATED ARTICLES

Republicans slammed for not clapping at Joe Biden’s child poverty claim: 'They only care about the rich kids'

Was Mitt Romney sleeping during Joe Biden's speech? Senator trolled for low energy: 'Looks like he lost a bet'

This call isn't an outlier, behind the scenes the administration has been carefully working on putting America first in more subtle ways than the previous one. Earlier in April, the nation was slammed for its embargo on vaccine raw materials, harming the production of the Covid-19 vaccines in India. On April 27, Biden also announced the creation of a new  Made in America Director. Within the White House Budget Office, the position is aimed at getting federal agencies to prefer American companies for all their purchases and contracts. 

Now, the president re-emphasized that priority in his speech, much to the amusement of many conservatives. Twitter users could not help but notice the similarities to Trump's 'America First' policies, which Biden had slammed multiple times. Like Biden, Trump too pushed for a buy American scheme and heavily promoted American industries. The former president event toured an Apple factory in Austin, and claimed to have "opened" the plant. Fake claims aside, Trump's priorities seem eerily similar to what Biden said, and Republicans wasted no time in slamming POTUS on Twitter for doing so.

'Biden's gone MAGA'

One Twitter user asked, "“Buy American.” Where have I heard that before?" Jason Miller also joined in, tweeting, "President Trump started Buy American, but he also said “Hire American.” Joe Biden can’t say this." Another former employee of the Trump administration said, "Trump: "Buy American, Hire American." Biden: "Buy American." See the difference?"

Trump's former legal council Jenna Ellis tweeted, "While Biden is touting stolen valor off Trump’s Operation Warp Speed, Buy American & Hire America, Jobs, etc... why doesn’t he just go back to all Trump era policies? Say like, protecting the border, building the wall, pro-life, conservative judges, etc?" Another user joked, "so...the jobs rebound Biden touts is from Trump's vaccines...he wants to stop the Endless Wars...Buy American...cut prescription drugs...stand up to China apart from the crazed expansion of government and woke madness, Biden's gone MAGA, it seems."

"Biden is literally ripping off Trump's America First policy. Buy American, making turbines in America instead of China, etc. What happened Biden? Former President Trumps America First is now appealing?" asked one person. Another seemed to tweet almost like Trump, saying, "Trump "buy American" and, created vaccine, with lowest unemployment. Stolen ideas and credit. Sad."

But it wasn't all Biden trolling. A few enterprising users turned the tables on Republicans as well. One user joked, "On the bright side the "Buy American" means our government will no longer be giving money to Donald or Ivanka Trump since nothing they make is made in America." Another user claimed, "There are some things that all Presidents have to say, regardless o party, like God Bless America or Buy American. Its not like Trump invented that ideology."

While the similarities in words are too big to ignore, we will have to wait and see if the execution is any different. A lot of Biden's plans are tied to big policies such as the American Jobs Plan, which requires Republicans in the Senate to vote. Without that, it's as good as dead. Can he get Republicans on board with his Trump-like message? It looks like the plan, but whether it will work or not only time will tell.