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Joe Biden is facing the wrath of conservatives online after he was caught on camera telling a reporter in Portland that the ‘economy is strong as hell’ – while licking away at a Baskin Robbins ice cream cone.
The president appeared unbothered by the country’s 8.2 percent inflation rate and warnings of a looming recession as he was asked about the US’ financial situation in an Oregon ice cream parlor Saturday.
Questioned if he had any worry about the strength of the US dollar amid rising inflation, the president, with a chocolate chip cone in-hand, flippantly replied: ‘I’m not concerned about the strength of the dollar. I’m concerned about the rest of the world. Our economy is strong as hell.’
The US dollar largely serves as a safe haven investment that sees inflows during times of uncertainty – meaning it will often rise in times of economic turmoil, while others, like the pound and euro, fall.
That sentiment was not lost on several pundits and political observers who viewed the clip, which has been widely shared since its recording Sunday afternoon during the head of state’s visit to the notoriously liberal city to tout the Democratic Party’s recent legislative achievements in health care.
The bizarre interaction has since gone viral, being shared thousands of times just a day after Biden, 79, drew criticism from Republicans for giving unsolicited dating advice to a young teen girl in California – much to her apparent discomfort – in an interaction that was also recorded.
The altercations, along with a litany of other gaffes in recent months, have opened Biden up to political attacks about his age, as well as accusations the president has failed to address current economic unrest, which has seen inflation rates swell and Americans’ cost-of-living seeing an even worse surge.
The president appeared unbothered by the country’s 8.2 percent inflation rate and warnings of a looming recession as he was asked about the US’ financial situation in an Oregon ice cream parlor Saturday
‘The price of Joe Biden’s ice cream is UP 13.6 percent compared with a year ago,’ wrote Breitbart journalist Wendell Husebø of the president’s answer, in which he seemed oblivious to the economic troubles his country is facing.
Former Buzzfeed columnist Benny Johnson – the self-proclaimed ‘Godfather of the Conservative Internet’ added, ‘Biden is eating Ice cream bragging about the economy,’ re-sharing a clip of the now viral exchange.
Jacob Schneider, meanwhile, the deputy director of rapid response for the Republican National Committee, also took a shot at the president, poking fun at his contentious claims – as well as his preference for the frozen snack – during a photo-op with Portland Gubernatorial candidate Tina Kotek.
‘I’m glad Joe Biden and the crazy lady whose priorities include ‘meth stabilization centers’ had time for an ice cream cone,’ the conservative security official wrote, referring to Kotek’s controversial plans to build of a so-called ‘sobering center’ where addicts can stay indoors while they come down from their high on methamphetamines and other dangerous drugs.
Portland’s first meth stabilization center, Central City Concern, shuttered in 2019 because it was not providing much-needed medical treatment to addicts, according to its senior medical director, and instead enabled them to continue to use.
The altercation opened Biden up to political attacks about his age, as well as accusations the president has failed to address current economic unrest, which has seen inflation rates swell and Americans’ cost-of-living seeing an even worse surge
The recorded altercation further saw the president – who fell for the second time while traversing the steps of Air Force One in May – downplay the country’s current inflation rate, which rocketed to a 41-year high over the summer.
Speaking to the reporter while still clutching the cone, Biden asserted that ‘inflation is worldwide,’ adding that ‘it’s worse off [in other countries] than it is in the United States.’
The president stated: ‘The problem is the lack of economic growth and sound policy in other countries – not so much ours.’
That declaration came just days after the Commerce Department announced that the Consumer Price Index was 8.2 percent higher than it was a year ago – was barely down from last month’s 8.3 per cent, with core inflation, which takes out currently rampant energy and food costs, up 6.6 percent.
Rents and other essentials have also drastically risen in recent months under Biden’s administration – occurrences that the president seemed oblivious too during his de facto ice cream social, which came during a planned visit to boost Democrat Kotek in Oregon’s tight race for governor.
The president finished his western swing in Portland over the weekend, where Republicans believe they can now wrest control of the deep-blue state from Democrats for the first time in 40 years.
A mix of high crime, homelessness and an independent spoiler candidate has surprisingly propelled GOP nominee Christine Drazan into first place.
Several conservatives poked fun at the president’s contentious claims and subsequent preference for the frozen snack during a photo-op with uber progressive Portland Gubernatorial candidate Tina Kotek (at right). Rents and other essentials have also drastically risen in recent months under Biden’s administration – occurrences that the president seemed oblivious too during his de facto ice cream social, which came during a planned visit to boost Democrat Kotek in Oregon’s tight race for governor
This visit to the Baskin Robin’s, meanwhile – which Kotek also attended – saw Biden engage in even more questionable behavior, when he seemingly went in to smell a female patron’s hair after introducing himself to her and what appeared to be the woman’s young daughter.
An onlooker recorded video of the strange occurrence, which was reminiscent of several other highly publicized incidents of the president getting close to a woman to get a whiff of their mane, with the latest coming just this past Saturday in LA.
The Minnesota Miners, a grassroots nonprofit that advocates for mining in Minnesota and across the US, commented on the clip Sunday after it had been shared to Twitter, criticizing the president for failing to address the rising costs of essentials such as groceries and gas since he came into office nearly two years ago.
‘While you were out eating ice cream & sniffing hair in Oregon the people of America are trying to figure out whether they can eat or drive to work,’ the working-class org wrote in response to the video recorded inside the Portland Baskin Robins.
‘You have done nothing to stop the increasing prices at the grocery store,’ the post added. ‘We are at a tipping point.’
This visit to the Baskin Robin’s, meanwhile – which Kotek also attended – saw Biden engage in even more questionable behavior, when he seemingly went in to smell a female patron’s hair after introducing himself to her and what appeared to be the woman’s young daughter
The visit to Portland came as part of a three-state tour in the Western US by Biden to garner support for progressive candidates during the upcoming midterm elections. Biden also visited California – where he appeared to grab a young girl by her shoulder telling her ‘no serious guys till you’re 30’ -and intends to visit Colorado before heading back to Washington, D.C.
The incident with the unnamed teenage girl – which was also caught on film and widely shared on social media – for a photograph with the teen and her friends at Irvine Valley College in Irvine, California, Friday.
The president visited the community college to meet with older adults and tout his administration’s efforts to reduce inflation and drive down costs.
As the visit came to and end, he stood to pose with some of those who had gathered to hear his remarks.
Aside from explaining how he might curb inflation and lower the cost of prescription drugs – just as he did in Portland with Kotek the following day, the president also dished out some perhaps ill-advised dating advice.
‘Now, a very important thing I told me daughters and granddaughters – no serious guys until you’re 30!’ he told a bemused teen in the now viral video, which show the girl become visibly uncomfortable as Secret Service agents notice the incident is being films and seemingly attempt to stop the camera operator from recording.
The bizarre interaction has since gone viral, being shared thousands of times just a day after Biden, 79, drew criticism from Republicans for giving unsolicited dating advice to a young teen girl in California – much to her apparent discomfort – in an interaction that was also recorded
The creepy moment was captured by reporter Kalen D’Almeida who then posted the video to his Twitter account
President Joe Biden speaks about lowering costs for American families at Irvine Valley Community College in Irvine, California on Friday. He said Saturday that despite a 40-year-high inflation rate and unprecedented real estate, food, and fuel prices, the US economy is ‘strong as hell’
CONCERNS OVER GAFFE-PRONE JOE’S HEALTH
BROKEN FOOT PLAYING WITH DOG AND TUMBLE BOARDING AIR FORCE ONE
Biden was walking in a boot after breaking his foot while playing with his dog, Major, in November 2020.
His physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, said in a statement at the time that he would likely be required to wear a bootie for several weeks.
However Biden’s recovery appeared to go well, and he was soon spotted in public without the boot on.
The president was then filmed falling three times as he boarded Air Force One on March 2021.
The president’s fall was blamed on a ‘breeze,’ and he did not suffer any injuries.
HIGH CHOLESTEROL AND IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT
In December 2019, there were concerns over Biden’s health, in particular leading up to the 2020 election.
He released medical records which showed he has an irregular heartbeat and high cholesterol, but which described him as a ‘healthy, vigorous 77-year-old.’
Some experts questioned whether or not he was as healthy as he claimed.
SLIPS OF THE TONGUE AND FEARS OF MEMORY LOSS
Days before the election, he became confused when introducing is granddaughter Natalie at an event, and instead referred to her as ‘my son Beau’.
Beau Biden died in 2015 after battling a brain tumor.
He has mistakenly referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as ‘president’ and incorrectly told US troops that they were going to Ukraine.
Last month, the president was pictured extending his hand for a handshake from nobody during a speech in North Carolina where he wandered off stage.
‘Ok,’ the young girl replies in the footage, visibly perturbed by the politician’s seemingly inappropriate remark. ‘I’ll keep that in mind.’
All the while, the president hovered just inches from the youngster’s face.
Biden has been pictured engaging in similar behavior several times over the decades as a senator, vice president, and now president, with others as well – whether they be small children or female political officials, including former Nevada state assemblywoman Lucy Flores and Democratic aide Amy Lappos, who both fell victim to the official’s wandering nose.
The incident was reminiscent of the president’s widely seen fall last in May on the stairs of Air Force One in Illinois – which itself harked back to an incident last year in Atlanta, where the president tumbled over the plane’s steps three times.
At the time, the head of state – the country’s oldest-ever – blamed the spills on strong gusts of wind.
The altercations, along with other gaffes, have opened Biden up to political attacks about his age.
In recent months, the president mistakenly stated that First Lady Biden was Obama’s vice president – a job he himself held for eight years – and call Vice President Kamala Harris ‘president’
He has also repeatedly confused countries such as Libya and Syria, and has falsely claimed that inflation seen in the US during his time in office is higher ‘everywhere’ else, as inflation rates his highs not seen in nearly half a century and economists warn of the likelihood of a looming recession.
Concerns about the president’s age were first brought up throughout his campaign against former President Donald Trump, and shortly after his election win in November 2020, Biden suffered a broken foot while playing with his dog, Major.
In November 2021, Biden underwent a colonoscopy and briefly transferred power to Vice President Kamala Harris, making her for a time the first acting female President in US History. Biden took control back after the procedure.
During the operation Biden had a small polyp on his colon removed, which was later found to be benign.
His 2019 medical examination found that he took medication for several common age-related conditions like elevated cholesterol and a minor heart arrhythmia.
Concerns over his health resurfaced in March 2021, after the Air Force One fall.
Biden gave a speech over the summer regarding the supply chain crunch at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University before turning his back to the audience to shake hands with nobody.
The president was likely expecting someone to appear beside him for the moment, but he remained alone on the stage, looking around, before wandering off stage.
Biden had also incorrectly stated that he had served as a ‘full professor’ at the University of Pennsylvania despite never teaching a class at the school.
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