Biden Comments On High Profile Case During Speech
President Biden faced criticism Thursday night following his State of the Union address after appearing to mix up the name of a Georgia student who was allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant. Biden was interrupted during the address by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who shouted “say her name” in reference to Laken Riley, the slain student.
As boos were heard from the floor, Biden appeared to refer to the young woman as “Lincoln Riley”– who is the coach of the University of Southern California Trojans football team. The president seemed to lose his train of thought and struggled to regain his footing as Greene continued to shout for him to mention Riley’s name.
Congressman Pat Fallon of Texas gestured towards Greene as Biden reached for a button bearing Riley’s name that he had on his desk. The president then appeared to say, “Lincoln– Lincoln Riley” before finally stating “Laken Riley,” acknowledging the tragedy that occurred and offering condolences to her family.
Shortly after the incident, X – formerly Twitter – was flooded with criticism directed towards the president for mixing up the names. Many used the opportunity to mock Biden, posting pictures of Coach Riley and captioning them “say his name.” Conservative figure and founder of OutKick, Clay Travis, commented on the incident saying, “Joe Biden just confused Laken Riley, a college student killed by an illegal immigrant, with USC football coach Lincoln Riley. This just happened. The man’s brain is mush. Incredibly disrespectful.”
Media Research Center also caught the mistake and noted that although Biden eventually said Laken Riley’s name correctly, he initially said “Lincoln Riley.” Other X users condemned the president for the mix-up and called out his open border policies as a contributing factor to the tragedy.
Biden refers to Laken Riley — a 22-year-old Georgia student murdered by an illegal alien his administration let in — as “Lincoln.” pic.twitter.com/oVokg8n2IX
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 8, 2024
Actor James Woods, a well-known conservative in Hollywood, posted on X saying, “‘Lincoln’ Riley? Just appalling.” Conservatives weren’t the only ones criticizing Biden’s error, as former White House press secretary and current Fox News host, Kayleigh McEnany, also found it to be “completely insensitive.” Even former Treasury official Monica Crowley, who is a frequent guest on Fox News programs, commented that Biden’s mistake was more insulting than if he had just neglected to mention Riley’s name at all.
However, some sources pointed out that Biden may have been prepared for potential interruptions and heckling during the State of the Union address. On Fox News’ special coverage of the event, chief political anchor Bret Baier stated, “Listen really closely, he says ‘Lincoln Riley’ – who happens to be the USC football head coach.” Co-host of “The Five,” Dana Perino, also noted that although Biden apparently mixed up the names, he continued with a line that sounded “a little bit strange.”
On “Hannity,” House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan also commented on the mix-up, stating, “It is Laken Riley, not Lincoln. And we should remember that because it’s Biden’s policies that led to this tragedy that happened in Georgia to this young lady and what her family is now having to deal with.”
Biden’s mix-up of the names has sparked controversy and criticism from both conservatives and liberals. Some have taken the opportunity to mock the president, while others have pointed out the larger issue of illegal immigration and its consequences. The incident has also sparked a debate about Biden’s mental sharpness and ability to effectively lead the country.
It remains to be seen how the White House will respond to the criticism and whether Biden will clarify or apologize for his mistake. However, the incident has once again highlighted the deep political divide in the country and the challenges that the current administration continues to face.