'There Are Six, but You Only Said Five': A Child Corrects Biden on His Grandchildren. He Had Seven (April 27, 2023)

President Joe Biden took questions from children at the White House, and one of them caught him in a mistake about his own family. “There are six, but you only said five,” a child told Biden on April 27, 2023, after he tried to list where his grandchildren live [1].

“I did say five. You’re right. So let me see. I’ve got one in New York, two in Philadelphia—or is it three? No, three, because I’ve got one granddaughter who is—I don’t know. [ Laughter ] You’re confusing me,” Biden said, according to the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

He did not have six grandchildren. He had seven [2].

The video above shows Biden at the White House’s Take Your Child to Work Day event on April 27, 2023. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project and the Washington Examiner [1][2].

”I Have Six Grandchildren”

A child named Hadley asked how many people live in the White House. Biden said only he and the first lady live there every night, then turned to his family. “And then, the best part of it all, I have six grandchildren. And I’m crazy about them. And I speak to them every single day. Not a joke,” he said [1].

He went through them one by one, with a slip the White House fixed in the transcript: “And then I have number two—I have a daughter [granddaughter; White House correction] who works in the environmental movement. And her name is Finnegan and—named after my mom.” [1]

“And then, now I have a new—a new—baby boy. He’s 3½ years old,” Biden said of his youngest grandson [1].

Then came the follow-up. “My name is Amelia. And where are your—where are your grandsons or granddaughters?” a child asked. Biden named the cities and stopped. “But I left somebody out, didn’t I? Anyway,” he said [1].

“120 Years Ago”

Asked why he wanted to be president, Biden reached back. “Well, you know, when I was younger, 120 years ago—[ laughter ]—when I was younger, I was in—I lived in a State that—it was very hard for African Americans to have a fair chance,” he said [1].

He credited his sister. “My sister used to be 3 years younger than me. Now she’s 20 years younger than me. [ Laughter ] We went to the same university. She graduated with honors; I graduated. [ Laughter ]” [1]

“Ireland!”

A child asked a simple question. “What was the last country you traveled to?” [1]

“The last country I’ve traveled—I’m thinking what’s the last one I was in. I’ve been to 89—I met with 89 heads of state so far. So I’m trying to think. What was the last—where was the last place I was? It’s hard to keep track,” Biden said [1].

“Ireland!” the child said. “I was—I mean, yes, you’re right. Ireland. [ Laughter ] That’s where it was. How’d you know that?” Biden answered [1].

”I Heard You Had to Get Back to the Oval Office”

At the end, a child named Kathleen moved him along. “Mr. President, I heard you have to get back to the Oval Office. [ Laughter ]” [1]

“And by the way, the one thing I thought when I got to be President, I’d get to give orders. [ Laughter ] But I take more orders than I ever did. And you’re right, babe,” Biden said [1].

He also told the children about breakfast. “And I had a bacon and cheese on a croissant,” Biden said, then corrected himself: “I mean bacon, scrambled egg, and cheese on a croissant.” [1]

“They Only Pay 8 Percent”

Even with children, Biden made his tax pitch. Asked by a child named Glen about health care for White House employees, he said: “You know, we have a thousand billionaires in America. They only pay 8 percent of their taxes. Your moms and dad pay 20, 25 percent on their taxes.” [1]

Asked who inspired him, Biden named Dr. Martin Luther King and his parents. “And my mom used to say, ‘Just remember, Joey: Never bow, never bend, never kneel. Just get up and fight back.’ And that’s for real,” he said [1].

He also could not say how many guards were in the building. “Well, other than the four Secret Service people over there right in front of the podium—but you know, to tell you the truth, I don’t know how many there are. There’s a whole bunch, though. [ Laughter ]” [1]

By the Numbers

6: grandchildren Biden said he had [1].
7: grandchildren he actually had, per the Washington Examiner [2].
4: Navy Joan Roberts’ age when Biden first publicly acknowledged her [2].
89: heads of state Biden said he had met [1].

What Happened Next

Three months later, Biden acknowledged Navy. On July 28, 2023, Biden “made his first public statement acknowledging his 4-year-old granddaughter,” the Washington Examiner reported. Navy Joan Roberts is the daughter of Hunter Biden and Lunden Roberts [2].

“Navy Joan Roberts, who resides in Arkansas, is one of the president’s seven grandchildren, but she has been the only member Joe Biden has not publicly debuted despite the importance of family being a staple of his presidency,” the Examiner reported [2].

“This is not a political issue, it’s a family matter,” Biden’s statement said. “Jill and I only want what is best for all of our grandchildren, including Navy.” [2]

The statement came days after Hunter Biden’s plea deal “fell through Wednesday after a federal judge raised concerns over the terms of the agreement,” the Examiner reported [2].

For Biden’s news conference with South Korea’s president the day before, see HYGO News’ page on April 26, 2023.