On September 10, 2024, President Joe Biden made an unintended verbal slip that sparked controversy, just one day before the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The incident occurred as the President was explaining his schedule to reporters on the White House lawn.
Biden stated, "I'm going up to my granddaughter's birthday in New York. Then we're gonna watch the debate, then tomorrow I'm doing 9/11." The President was likely referring to his planned attendance at solemn remembrance ceremonies commemorating the victims of the 2001 terror attacks.
The President's itinerary for September 11, 2024, includes visits to Ground Zero in New York City, the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. These locations are significant sites related to the 9/11 attacks, which claimed 2,977 lives and caused extensive damage.
The comment drew immediate criticism, particularly from Republican circles. The Republican National Committee Research account on X (formerly Twitter) responded with a terse "Yikes," while an account associated with Donald Trump's campaign posted a more pointed critique.
Some social media users expressed concern about the President's verbal missteps, with one commenting, "Biden's slip-ups are endless. You'd think someone would double-check his scripts by now."
This incident follows Biden's July 2024 announcement that he would not seek re-election, a decision that came after a series of age-related gaffes. At 81 years old, the President's cognitive abilities have been a subject of public discourse.
Despite the controversy, Biden continued his interaction with reporters, discussing the upcoming debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. He expressed confidence in Harris's preparedness, stating, "I spoke with the vice president. She's calm, cool, and collected. I think she's going to do great."
"I spoke with the vice president. She's calm, cool, and collected. I think she's going to do great, and I'm not going to tell you what advice I gave her."
As the nation prepares to mark another year since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, this verbal slip serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in political communication and the sensitive nature of discussions surrounding national tragedies.