Biden Calls Trump 'the Former President and Maybe Future President,' Then Makes the Sign of the Cross (March 9, 2023)

President Joe Biden was in the middle of a budget speech in Philadelphia when he made a prediction that came true. “I had a big fight with the former President and maybe future President—bless me, Father,” he said [1].

The official transcript notes what happened next: “At this point, the President began to make the sign of the cross.” The audience booed. “Anyway,” Biden said, to laughter [1].

Less than two years later, Donald Trump was the president again [2][3].

The video above shows the moment from Biden’s March 9, 2023, speech rolling out his budget for fiscal year 2024. Quotes are from the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

”Bless Me, Father”

The slip came as Biden was defending his student loan plan by comparing it to the pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program. “We paid—to the so-called PPP program—we paid significant—I think it’s $900 billion—wait, I think it—don’t hold me to that number,” he said [1].

Then he reached for a story about Trump. “You may remember—I was running for office at the time, but you all might remember that the—I had a big fight with the former President and maybe future President,” Biden said [1].

After the crowd’s boos, he moved on: “No, all—all kidding aside. And here’s the deal” [1].

Another Prediction

It was not Biden’s only forecast of the day. Greeting Pennsylvania’s new Democratic governor, he said: “And it’s great to be here with Josh—Josh Shapiro—one of the—I predicted he was going to be one of the best Governors in the history of the State. Where are you, Gov? That’s, in large part, because he married up” [1].

”A Very Conservative Guy”

Biden also previewed his debt fight with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. “The fact is that the Speaker of the House has been—he’s a very conservative guy, and he has an even more conservative group with him,” Biden said [1].

“I’m ready to meet with the Speaker anytime—tomorrow, if he has his budget. Lay it down. Tell me what you want to do. I’ll show you what I want to do,” he said [1].

”T-H-R-E-E”

It was not the only memorable moment. Biden spelled out a number for the crowd while attacking billionaires. “You know what the average tax they pay—Federal tax? Three percent—t-h-r-e-e—3 percent,” he said [1].

He also hedged on how many billionaires there were. “When I got elected, there were roughly—don’t hold me to the exact number because it varies—around 650 billionaires in America. Now there’s over a thousand,” Biden said [1].

And he repeated a pledge. “No one making less than $400,000 will see a penny in Federal taxes go up. Not a single penny,” he said [1].

”MAGA Republicans”

Biden used the phrase “MAGA” 16 times in the speech, according to a HYGO News count of the transcript [1].

“I guarantee you I will protect Social Security and Medicare without any change. Guaranteed. I won’t allow them to be gutted or eliminated, as MAGA Republicans have threatened to do,” he said [1].

He also claimed his budget would cut the deficit while the Republicans’ would explode it. “My plan is going to reduce the deficit by $3 trillion over 10 years. Based on what we know so far about their plan, it’s going explode the deficit by more than $3 trillion over the next 10 years. If I’m wrong, show me,” Biden said [1].

He opened the budget pitch with a familiar line about his father. “I know when I grew up—my dad’s kitchen table—not a whole lot trickled down on trickle-down economics onto my kitchen table for my dad,” Biden said [1].

On insulin, he gave his own cost figures. “You know how much it costs to make that insulin? Ten dollars. Do you know how much it costs to make it and package it? Thirteen dollars and fifty cents,” he said [1].

”I’d Be Sleeping Alone”

Biden worked the hometown crowd with a joke about first lady Jill Biden, “who’s a Philly girl.” “If I didn’t root like hell for every Philadelphia team, I’d be sleeping alone,” he said. “Oh, you think I’m kidding?” [1]

He touted a new Intel chip plant in Ohio, which he called the “field of dreams.” “It’s going to create 12,000 jobs—excuse me—yes, I think it’s 12,000 jobs,” Biden said [1].

By the Numbers

3%: the average federal tax rate Biden said billionaires pay [1].
$400,000: the income line below which Biden pledged no tax increase [1].
16: times Biden said “MAGA” in the speech, by HYGO News’ count [1].
$3 trillion: the deficit cut Biden claimed for his budget over 10 years [1].
312: electoral votes Trump won in 2024, against 226 for Kamala Harris [2].

What Happened Next

Biden left the race. On July 21, 2024, Biden announced he would not seek reelection, writing that “it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down” [4].

The “maybe future President” won. Trump and JD Vance defeated Harris and Tim Walz in November 2024, 312 electoral votes to 226, according to the National Archives [2].

Trump took the oath again. On Jan. 20, 2025, Trump was sworn in again. “The golden age of America begins right now,” he said in his inaugural address [3].

For Biden’s other big prediction about Trump, see HYGO News’ page on his vow to keep Trump from becoming president again.