Bidenomics? Jean-Pierre: 'It Kind of Flows Off the Tongue Really Well' - Two Days Later, Biden: 'You Guys Branded It' (June 26, 2023)

The White House was about to roll out a new name for President Joe Biden’s economic record, and a reporter wanted to know where it came from. “I wanted to ask you about this new ‘Bidenomics’ messaging push. Can you just give me a sense, first, of, you know, how did you guys coin that phrase, or why did you decide to go with that branding going forward?” the reporter asked [1].

“You don’t like ‘Bidenomics’?” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre answered. “No, I’m just asking. I’m curious,” the reporter said [1].

“I think it’s — I think it’s pretty clever. It’s pretty good. Look, it makes good sense, ‘Bidenomics.’ Right? It kind of flows off the tongue really well,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

The video above shows the June 26, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the official White House transcripts [1][2].

”Just 34 Percent”

The reporter had a reason for asking. “You know, the latest CNN polling showed that just 34 percent of Americans approve of the President’s handling of the economy. So, is there a risk that this new branding could backfire?” [1]

“So we believe our job is to continue to speak to the American people to lay out what it is that the President is doing on behalf of American families,” Jean-Pierre said. “We have the numbers to show that his economic policy has indeed worked.” [1]

She acknowledged the pain. “And we have shown that inflation — inflation has indeed come down. It is still too high,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

“So you’re confident that you can change the public’s perception of the economy?” the reporter asked. “We’re going to try. Right?” Jean-Pierre answered [1].

”Trickle-Down Economics Does Not Work”

Jean-Pierre explained what the name stood for. “Certainly, it’s a vision — right? — it’s a vision about growing the economy from the middle out, the bottom up. You hear us say that over and over again, because we believe that trickle-down economics does not work,” she said [1].

She listed the talking points. “13 million jobs; you know, unemployment rate at under 4 percent. When you think about wages going up, when you think about inflation at its lowest by more than 50 percent than it was a year ago, that’s because of the work that this President has done,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

“That’s why insulin at 35 bucks a month is so important — right? — for the senior citizens,” she added [1].

”You Guys Branded It”

Two days later, on the South Lawn, reporters asked Biden about the name. “A week ago, sir, you said you didn’t know ‘what the hell Bidenomics is.’ Sir, can you tell us today what it is?” a reporter asked. “Sure I didn’t, because the first time I heard it used was by you guys in the press,” Biden said [5].

“Well, look, you guys branded it. I didn’t. That’s — I never called it ‘Bidenomics,’” Biden said. “Your economic team is calling it ‘Bidenomics,’” a reporter said [5].

“No, wait. Let’s get it straight. The first time it was used was in the Wall Street Journal. Okay? I don’t go around beating my chest, ‘Bidenomics,’” Biden said. “Do you not like it, sir?” “No, I like it. It’s fine,” he answered [5].

In the same exchange, asked how much Vladimir Putin had been weakened, Biden said: “It’s hard to tell, but he’s clearly losing the war in Iraq [sic].” The “[sic]” is the White House’s [5].

”I Didn’t Come Up With the Name”

Later that day, in Chicago, Biden gave the “Bidenomics” speech, and he told a different story about the name. “I came into office determined to change the economic direction of this country, to move from trickle-down economics to what everyone in the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times began to call ‘Bidenomics.’ I didn’t come up with the name. (Laughter.) I really didn’t,” Biden said [2].

“I now claim it, but they’re the ones that used it first,” he said [2].

He recounted a reporter’s question from that morning. “When I asked you about Bidenomics a long time ago, you said you didn’t know what it was,” the reporter had said, according to Biden. “I said, ‘I didn’t name it Bidenomics. I didn’t realize the economists in the Wall Street journal did,’” Biden said [2].

“But I think it’s a plan that I’ll — I’m happy to call it ‘Bidenomics.’ (Laughs.) (Applause.) And guess what? Bidenomics is working,” he said [2].

By the Numbers

34 percent: Americans who approved of Biden’s handling of the economy in the CNN poll the reporter cited [1].
13 million: jobs Jean-Pierre credited to Biden [1].
$35: the monthly insulin cap she cited [1].
2 days: from “pretty clever” to “I didn’t come up with the name” [1][2].

What Happened Next

Voters weighed in. Biden left the 2024 race on July 21, 2024, writing that “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down” [3]. In November, Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, 312 electoral votes to 226, according to the National Archives [4].

For Jean-Pierre calling the Competition Council “Bidenomics at work” three weeks later, see HYGO News’ page on July 19, 2023. For the impeachment talk at the same briefing, see the page on June 26, 2023.