Biden to Mourners: “I’m Smarter Than Most of You!”

>> Continued From the Previous Page <<

Biden told attendees that he had worked at a swimming pool on the east side of Wilmington and described himself as the only white lifeguard at the facility.

“I was the only white guy worked on the east side of Wilmington, Delaware. Matter of fact, they named the biggest swimming pool after me, the Biden swimming pool. Man, all kidding aside, I was one of only 13 lifeguards,” Biden said.

He continued by explaining why he chose to work there, saying he believed the experience would help him better understand the community around him.

“I was the only white guy because I wanted to understand. I thought I knew the issues, but understand the individual persons,” Biden said.

Biden then pivoted to another personal story, recounting a conversation with a former football teammate and referencing an old car he owned at the time.

“I remember, I had an old Chevette. Remember an all-state that halfback I played with. He said, Joe, you have a jerry can, you know, big five gallon. He said, can I borrow your car? I said, you got a car. Sure you borrow, what a jerry can for? He said, You dumb SOB, I’m going down to see my mother in North Carolina. I can’t stop at a gas station. I can’t stop at a gas station,” Biden said.

WATCH:

The speech took a more unusual turn when Biden began discussing his childhood struggles with a speech impediment. While attempting to make a point about how people react to stuttering, he appeared to confuse medical conditions before ultimately directing a sharp remark toward the crowd.

“Well, I was a kid. I was a relatively good athlete, and a pretty good student, but I stuttered,” Biden said.

Moments later, Biden referenced two different physical conditions before pivoting to his main point.

“Now, if I told you all earlier, when I was a kid, I had a cleft palate or club foot, none of you would have laughed. But it’s okay to laugh at stuttering. I’m not being critical of you, but think about it. It’s the one place where people think you’re stupid. Oh, really? I’m hell of lot smarter than most of you,” Biden added.

The remark drew immediate attention online, with critics arguing that the statement was inappropriate for a memorial service honoring one of the most prominent figures in the American civil rights movement.

Biden quickly attempted to soften the moment by returning to his broader message about overcoming adversity.

“My dad used to say, when you get knocked down, Joey, just get up! Just get up!” Biden said.

He then added that the experience of being mocked for stuttering during childhood left a lasting impact.

“Well, all kidding aside, it makes you feel really small, makes you feel really small,” he said.

The speech has since circulated widely on social media, where clips of the moment have been viewed and shared thousands of times. Critics have pointed to the comments as yet another example of Biden’s sometimes rambling storytelling style during public appearances.

Jackson, the civil rights leader whose memorial the gathering was meant to honor, spent decades advocating for social justice, economic equality, and political participation among minority communities. His career included two presidential runs and a long record of activism dating back to the civil rights era.

But despite the historic significance of the event and the prominent leaders in attendance, Biden’s controversial comment quickly became one of the most talked-about moments from the memorial service.