Biden Tells “Big Mama” 18-Wheeler Story Again; Psaki Won’t Say When Kids Should Learn About Sex and Gender; EV Pitch Continues

On 4/4/2022, Biden repeated his dubious trucking story — claiming he “used to drive a truck” and had a commercial license — and told the “Big Mama” tale at a transport event. Doocy asked Psaki at what age students should be taught about “sexual orientation and gender identity”; Psaki deflected by attacking Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law as “hateful.” The administration continued pitching EVs as saving “$6,000 over the lifetime of the vehicle.” Psaki also deflected on whether biological males competing against women in college sports was fair, saying the NCAA “puts these policies in place."

"I Used to Drive a Truck”

Biden opened a transport event with his oft-repeated trucking claim. “I used to drive a truck. It’s a long story,” Biden said. He then told an extended anecdote about getting a commercial license because his father ran an automobile agency and he had to drive trailers to a body shop in Philadelphia.

Biden then shared the “Big Mama” story from a trucker’s strike. “His handle was Big Ten. The only woman truck driver I ever knew, I met that day. She said, ‘This is Big Mama. No room.’ He said, ‘I’ve got a United States senator driving my truck.’ She said, ‘I got the damn president of mine, so what?’” Biden said. “Swear to God, true story.”

Fact-checkers have noted Biden’s truck driving claims are heavily embellished. There is no evidence Biden drove an 18-wheeler; his “commercial license” appears to have been for moving vehicles short distances for his father’s car dealership.

”At What Age?”

Doocy asked the question the administration had been avoiding. “At what age does the White House think that students should be taught about sexual orientation and gender identity?” Doocy asked.

Psaki did not answer the question. Instead, she attacked Florida’s law. “We have spoken to the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill in the past. As we look at this law, what we think it’s a reflection of is politicians in Florida propagating misinformed, hateful policies that do absolutely nothing to address the real issues,” Psaki said.

She said the Department of Education was “ready to evaluate whether its implementation violates federal civil rights law.” But she never provided an age.

Biological Males in Women’s Sports

A reporter asked whether the White House thought it was “fair” that biological males were competing against women in college sports, referencing Lia Thomas in NCAA swimming.

“We’re not the governing body for the NCAA or any other system,” Psaki said. “The NCAA obviously puts these policies in place.”

EV Pitch: “$6,000 Savings”

An administration official pitched a new EV statistic. “$6,000 will be the savings for the purchaser of an electric vehicle over the course of the lifetime of that vehicle because it’s so low maintenance,” the official said. “Charging an electric vehicle is so much cheaper than filling up your gas vehicle. Electric vehicles can shield American families from the boom and bust of these high gas prices.”

Sanctions: “Take Time to Grind Down”

National Security Adviser Sullivan acknowledged sanctions would not produce results quickly. “We don’t expect that shift in behavior will be caused by sanctions overnight or in a week. It will take time to grind down the elements of Russian power, to hit their industrial base hard, to hit the sources of revenue that have propped up this war,” Sullivan said.

Thomas Recusal

A reporter asked whether Biden believed Justice Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from January 6th cases given his wife’s political activities. “That’s a decision up to the Supreme Court. We don’t have any additional position from here,” Psaki said.

The Evasion Pattern

The briefing captured the administration’s standard playbook for uncomfortable questions: redirect, defer, or claim the question is outside their purview. On what age children should learn about gender identity — no answer, just an attack on Florida. On biological males in women’s sports — “ask the NCAA.” On Thomas recusal — “that’s up to the Supreme Court.” On gas prices — “buy an EV.” Each dodge avoided a position that would either alienate progressives or offend the general public, but the cumulative effect was an administration that appeared unable or unwilling to take a stand on any culturally contested issue.

Key Takeaways

Biden repeated his dubious “I used to drive a truck” claim and told the “Big Mama” 18-wheeler story at a transport event.
Psaki would not say at what age students should learn about sexual orientation, instead attacking Florida’s parental rights law as “hateful.”
She declined to say whether biological males competing against women in college sports was fair, deferring to the NCAA.
The administration pitched EVs as saving “$6,000 over the lifetime of the vehicle” while gas remained above $4/gallon.
Sullivan acknowledged sanctions would “take time to grind down” Russian power — not produce quick results.

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

I used to drive a truck. It’s a long story. She said, this is Big Mama. No room. He said, I’ve got a senator driving my truck. She said, I got the damn president of mine, so what?
At what age should students be taught about sexual orientation and gender identity? Politicians in Florida are propagating misinformed, hateful policies.
Does the White House think biological males competing against women is fair? The NCAA puts these policies in place.
$6,000 savings over the lifetime of an EV. Charging is so much cheaper than filling up.
We don’t expect sanctions to shift behavior overnight. It will take time to grind down Russian power.
That’s a decision up to the Supreme Court. We don’t have any additional position.

Full transcript: 1071 words transcribed via Whisper AI.