Considering the horrendous job he’s done while in office, it might seem surprising that Joe Biden isn’t mercilessly heckled everywhere he goes.
As the outburst of one attendee at a speech this week revealed, however, Biden isn’t capable of accepting vocal criticism of any type.
According to the New York Post:
President Biden lashed out Monday at the father of a school shooting victim after the bereaved parent called for the White House to “do more” to curb gun crime.
“Sit down! You’ll hear what I have to say,” Biden said as Manuel Oliver shouted over him during a South Lawn celebration of bipartisan firearm policy legislation that Biden signed last month.
“You have to do more than this!” yelled Oliver, whose 17-year-old son Joaquin was killed in the Feb. 14, 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. “You have to open an office in the White House!”
“I’ve been trying to tell you this for years! And years!” Oliver added as some audience members broke out in applause.
“We have one. Let me finish my comments,” Biden pushed back on Oliver, before quickly adding, “Let him talk, let him talk.”
The exchange sparked massive backlash from Republicans and Democrats alike.
Biden just screamed at who?!https://t.co/GiqjaAMf1u
— Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) July 11, 2022
Biden was caught completely off guard.https://t.co/Lp0NyW0b97
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) July 11, 2022
But you tell a grieving father to sit down
— Karen Schieck🇨🇦 (@SchieckKaren) July 11, 2022
Pretty sure Biden is the one who needs to take ALL.THE.SEATS. https://t.co/4uT2Omph4S
— Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) July 11, 2022
The aftermath of his remark threw the White House into crisis mode with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre left to attempt — yet again — to clean up Biden’s mess.
As Fox News reported:
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Monday said President Biden agrees with the man who interrupted his gun control event earlier in the day that more needs to be done on the issue.
Manuel Oliver, whose son Joaquin was murdered in the Parkland, Florida, mass shooting in 2018 started shouting during a speech Biden gave Monday to commemorate the passage of the bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Security escorted him out, even as Biden attempted to engage with the man.
Jean-Pierre also said that Biden understands what Oliver is feeling. Biden’s first wife, infant daughter and adult son have all died during his life.
“Our hearts go out to Manuel Oliver who has suffered a deep, deep loss,” she said. “The president met with him earlier today before the event. And as you know, the president understands what loss feels like.”
Here’s a clip of Biden’s reaction just before Oliver was escorted from the location:
Biden to protester who interrupts his speech: "Sit down. You'll hear what I have to say."pic.twitter.com/K0pgkUkUoa
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) July 11, 2022
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