Biden: 'As We Approach Memorial Day This Weekend... I'm Rushing It,' Three Weeks Early, Then 'Can't Do Much of Anything' (May 8, 2023)

President Joe Biden was only a few words into his remarks on airline fees when he got ahead of the calendar. “As we approach Memorial Day this weekend and — Memorial Day Weekend — I’m rushing it — and a busy summer travel season, I’m here to talk about steps my administration is taking to make air travel better for all Americans,” he said, according to the official White House transcript [1].

It was May 8, 2023. Memorial Day was three weeks away, on May 29.

The video above shows that moment at the start of Biden’s 2:04 p.m. remarks in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Quotes are from the official White House transcripts [1][2].

In the same remarks, Biden flubbed the name of his own new website. “First, we just launched a new website: FlightsRight.gov [FlightRights.gov]. FlightsRight.gov [FlightRights.gov],” he said, with the White House correcting the name both times [1]. For that moment, see HYGO News’ page on Flightsright.gov.

”Can’t Do Much of Anything”

That night, two weeks after announcing he would run for a second term, Biden stood in the East Room for a screening of “American Born Chinese” and summed up his talents. “My name is Joe Biden. (Laughter.) I’ve never won an Academy Award. (Laughter.) Can’t act worth a damn. (Laughter.) Can’t sing, can’t dance. Can’t do much of anything,” he said [2].

A few minutes later, he described who runs the government. “But your time did come, as it has for the entire community — a diverse community of cultures that are reflected in every part of American life, including in government — by the way, a government led by Kamala Harris, an Indian American,” Biden said, to applause [2].

”Promise Me You Will Not Say, ‘Joe Who?’”

Biden had a request for the young people in the room. “But just remember, when one of you becomes President of the United States and your staff tells you, ‘Joe Biden is out in the waiting room to see you’ — (laughter) — promise me you will not say, ‘Joe who?’” he said [2].

He praised the kids in the room. “What an attractive group of kids. (Laughter.) You represent the most gifted, talented, and tolerant generation in American history,” Biden said [2].

He also joked with Ke, the Oscar-winning actor who introduced him, about his comeback. “How you were famous in the 1980s, then people counted you out — (laughter) — only — only to find — only to finally make it big in — three years later. (Laughter.) Hell, I know something about that, too,” Biden said [2].

”Shangaka- — -kawawa [Shigekawa]”

Then came a name Biden could not get out. He was listing honorees of the National Medals of Arts and Humanities. “The group included groundbreaking Asian Americans like Vera Wang and — and — and Joan Shingang- — Shin- — I’m — I’m going to pronounce it wrong — Shangaka- — -kawawa [Shigekawa],” he said. The bracketed name is the White House’s correction [2].

“I think I pronounced it correctly. She can call me ‘Joe Bid-en,’” Biden said, to laughter [2].

”Life, Liberty, et Cetera”

Biden told a story about Chinese President Xi Jinping. “I was with Xi Jinping in the Tibetan Plateau, and he turned to me and he said, ‘Can you define America for me?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I can.’ This is the God’s truth,” Biden said [2].

He quoted the Declaration of Independence his own way: “that we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men and women are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights — life, liberty, et cetera” [2].

”The Irish Accords”

He brought up his recent trip to Ireland. “I just got back from Ireland, trying to keep the Irish Accords together so things — but in the process, I — process — I was going back and seeing my relatives, who I hadn’t met before,” Biden said [2].

“We Irish were escaping because we were Catholics and we were being persecuted. Well, guess what? I’m standing here as President,” he said [2].

And he explained his habit of quoting poets. “Ladies and gentlemen, you know, I — they kid me because I’m always quoting Irish poets. I only do it for one reason: They’re the best poets in the world,” Biden said, to laughter [2].

On guns, he took credit for the old ban. “I wrote, along with Dianne Feinstein of California, the banning assault weapons. And for 10 years, violent mass murders went down precipitously. But now it’s back,” Biden said [2].

By the Numbers

3 weeks: how early Biden was for Memorial Day [1].
7: Oscars Biden said “Everything Everywhere All At Once” won [2].
1157: how far back Biden said his Irish relatives go [2].
13 minutes: the length of the screening remarks, 8:06 to 8:19 p.m. [2].

What Happened Next

Biden stepped aside. On July 21, 2024, Biden wrote that “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down” [3].

Harris led the ticket and lost. Harris, the Vice President Biden said “led” the government, became the Democratic nominee and lost to Donald Trump, 312 electoral votes to 226, according to the National Archives [4].

For his “Kamala’s running mate” line six weeks later, see HYGO News’ page on the Mayflower event.