Biden calls troops 'stupid bastards' in 2016 video, campaign says it was said in jest after clip goes viral
On Friday, September 25, a video of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden surfaced on social media where he was seen speaking in front of US service members. “I have incredibly good judgment,” Biden said in the video, “One, I married Jill, and two, I appointed Johnson to the academy. I just want you to know that. Clap for that, you stupid bastards.”
The video was shared by several supporters of Donald Trump on Twitter; one of them wrote, “Joe Biden to our troops: ‘Clap for that, you stupid bastards’,” adding in another tweet, “Here’s another angle,” with a separate video, following it up with, “For those of you asking: this is not fake. This is from a March 7, 2016 visit to Al Dhafra airbase.”
Joe Biden to our troops: “Clap for that, you stupid bastards” pic.twitter.com/9sqYPhkh3S
— Jewish Deplorable 🇺🇸 (@TrumpJew) September 25, 2020
Here’s another angle: pic.twitter.com/euDRDJnm6f
— Jewish Deplorable 🇺🇸 (@TrumpJew) September 25, 2020
For those of you asking: this is not fake. This is from a March 7, 2016 visit to Al Dhafra airbase
— Jewish Deplorable 🇺🇸 (@TrumpJew) September 25, 2020
During the same speech, Biden also praised the troops, saying, “You’re the finest generation of warriors the world has ever, ever known. Thank you very, very, very much.”
The video comes merely weeks after the Atlantic reported how President Donald Trump canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018 because he feared his hair would become disheveled in the rain, and because he did not believe it important to honor American war dead. In a conversation with senior staff members on the morning of the scheduled visit, Trump is reported to have said, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.” In a separate conversation on the same trip, Trump referred to the more than 1,800 marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood (a significant battle where America and its allies stopped the German advance toward Paris in the spring of 1918) as “suckers” for getting killed.
After the Biden video gained enough traction on social media, his campaign confirmed the accuracy of it, but said the comments were made in jest as a way to garner greater applause for a female service member’s commitment to the country. “Vice President Biden was jokingly encouraging the audience to clap for an airwoman on the stage, and a number of service members can be seen laughing and smiling at the comment. Seconds before, he praised them for 'the incredible sacrifices [they] make for our country,’” Biden campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement.
“He thanked them for their patriotism and courage throughout, and closed his remarks by saying, 'you’re the finest generation of warriors the world has ever, ever known'—receiving an enthusiastic ovation,” Bates added.
As per the official transcript of the speech, Biden also said, “I’ve been in and out of the Balkans 25 times; in and out of Iraq 26 times; in and out of Afghanistan about 10 or 12 times. And I have one regret every time I’m with you all -- and I mean this sincerely -- is the folks back home can't see you; can't see you in place. Don't get to fly on the mission with you. Don't understand -- they appreciate, but they don't fully understand the incredible sacrifices you make for our country.”
It was after this that Biden said the supposedly offending part, as a joke.