In a speech filled with familiar falsehoods, President Joe Biden once again leaned on a series of debunked hoaxes during his address at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday night. Rather than offering a vision for the future, Biden relied on long-discredited claims in an apparent attempt to smear former President Donald Trump, demonstrating once again his inability to engage with the facts.
Biden, in his typical fashion, resurrected the “very fine people” hoax, a misrepresentation that has been thoroughly debunked over the years. During his speech, he falsely claimed that then-President Trump referred to neo-Nazis as “very fine people” during the Charlottesville protests in 2017. In reality, Trump explicitly condemned the neo-Nazis and white supremacists, stating, “I’m not talking about the neo-Nazis and the white nationalists, because they should be condemned totally.” Yet, Biden continues to peddle this false narrative, ignoring the truth in favor of a divisive and misleading attack.
Ironically, while Biden condemned Trump with this lie, he failed to denounce the recent pro-Palestinian protesters, some of whom carried pro-Hamas flags and chanted antisemitic slogans. One protester even wore a swastika, yet Biden offered no condemnation, revealing a glaring double standard.
Biden also trotted out the tired “suckers and losers” hoax, a claim that originated from an unsubstantiated 2020 article in The Atlantic. The article alleged that Trump had refused to visit the graves of U.S. soldiers in Europe and had disparaged them as “suckers” and “losers.” However, this claim has been denied by multiple officials who were with Trump at the time, and the reason for canceling the visit was poor weather, not a lack of respect for the fallen. Despite this, Biden cited former Trump Chief of Staff John Kelly, who merely repeated the claim as it had been reported in the media, without offering any firsthand confirmation.
In another attempt to paint Trump as a threat to democracy, Biden repeated the false claim that Trump “promised a ‘bloodbath’ if he loses” the upcoming election. This is a blatant distortion. Trump’s use of the term “bloodbath” was in reference to the challenges facing the American automobile industry, not a threat of political violence. Yet, Biden continues to misuse this term in a clear attempt to stoke fear and division.
Though Biden did not personally repeat the "injecting bleach" hoax during his speech, it was invoked by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) on stage before him. This tired claim is based on a deliberate misinterpretation of Trump’s remarks at a 2020 press conference, where he discussed exploring new technologies, including the possibility of using UV light as a disinfectant. When asked by a journalist if he was suggesting that people inject bleach, Trump clearly stated that he was not. Yet, the media and Biden's allies continue to perpetuate this falsehood.
Biden’s reliance on these debunked hoaxes highlights a troubling pattern: when the facts don’t support his narrative, he resorts to distortion. This tactic not only misleads the American public but also distracts from the real issues facing the nation. As Biden continues to repeat these falsehoods, it becomes clear that he is more interested in vilifying his opponent than in addressing the challenges that Americans are facing.
The mainstream media’s failure to hold Biden accountable for these repeated falsehoods is equally concerning. In a time when voters deserve honest discourse and factual information, Biden’s speech was a disappointing display of political opportunism and dishonesty. As the 2024 election approaches, the American people must ask themselves: if Biden is willing to base his campaign on lies, what else is he willing to deceive them about?
Meanwhile, Trump remains focused on delivering real results, not rhetoric. The choice in this election could not be clearer.
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