Say What Joe? Joe  Biden Has a History of Making Odd Comments. Back in the Summer, President Joe Biden raised eyebrows for remarks he made at the end of a speech at the National Safer Communities Summit in Connecticut.

Biden, who spoke to gun safety advocates and survivors of gun violence on Friday at the University of Hartford, stated, "Alright? God save the Queen, man."

That statement was met by a firestorm of comments across social media, where critics of the president questioned his mental acuity.

It was unclear what Biden meant by the words, especially as Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth II – the UK's longest-serving monarch, passed away last September at age 96. President Biden even attended the funeral, while First Lady Jill Biden was at the coronation of King Charles III. 

What in God’s Name Did He Mean?

In past speeches – including those in which he has called for stricter gun control measures – Biden has stated the more generic lines of "God, bless you all" and "God, protect our troops." Some on Twitter have suggested that the president has used the phrase at the end of past speeches, but usually when the British government is in the audience.

The White Press office has since clarified that President Biden's remarks were made to an individual in attendance.

"He couldn't do the full ropeline due to weather, and was commenting to someone in the crowd," the White Office press office told The Independent newspaper via an email.

While visiting the United Kingdom for the 2021 G7 Summit, Biden and his family met with Queen Elizabeth II at her home in Windsor Castle. It was not the first time Biden had an audience with the monarch.

"We first met the queen in 1982, traveling to the UK as part of a Senate delegation. And we were honored that she extended her hospitality to us in June 2021 during our first overseas trip as President and First Lady, where she charmed us with her wit, moved us with her kindness and generously shared with us her wisdom," Biden wrote in the White House statement following her passing last year,  The Connecticut Insider reported.

The president has also said that Queen Elizabeth II had reminded him of his late mother.

Joe Biden Being Biden Again?

Even as the White House has given an "official reason" for why Biden made the remarks, "God Save the Queen," it reportedly had confused some of the president's aides.

However, as The New York Post reported last year, Biden is no stranger to gaffes.

"Every once in a while I make a mistake," President Biden said in May 2022. "Like, well, once a speech."

The recent comments - and, of course, the recent Hur report and press conference after it was released - have reignited concerns about President Biden's age as he announced earlier this year that he would seek reelection. Biden will turn 82 next year and could be 86 at the end of his second term. He is already the oldest president and comments like last summer's and more recent ones only serve to give his critics ammunition that Biden isn't fit for the job.

Author Experience and Expertise:

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.

Image Credit: Gage Skidmore.