Last Updated on May 19, 2021
In the latest of Joe Biden’s history of blunders around the Armed Forces, the American President became verbally abusive when the Coast Guard graduating class refused to clap in response to what seems to have been a back handed insult. After complaining about the lack of applause, laughter ensued, and a few graduates gave a belated round of applause.
“I can only assume that you’ll enjoy educating your family about how the Coast Guard is, quote, the hard nucleus around the navy forms in times of war,” said Biden, laughing at the beginning. It is unclear whether Biden was insulting the popular reputation of the Coast Guard as an unimportant part of the U.S. Armed Forces, despite the fact that – with a shoestring budget – the Coast Guard completes dangerous work in the Caribbean and is responsible for apprehending more illegally smuggled cocaine than any law enforcement branch in the country.
“Wow, you’re a really dull class,” Biden then yelled. “I mean come on man, is the sun getting to you? I would think you’d have an opportunity when I say that about the Navy to clap, but we came here together.” At this point some members of the Coast Guard graduating class began laughing, then prompting a belated round of applause.
Joe Biden calls Coast Guard graduates “dull” when they don’t clap during his speech pic.twitter.com/STnvJxMuLl
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 19, 2021
Some commentators drew comparisons to a previous speech before the military, in which he called troops “stupid bastards” when they neglected to clap for him in 2016. As National File reported, “Then-Vice President Joe Biden instructed military service members to “clap for that, you stupid bastards” during a March 7, 2016 speech at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.”
To Joe Biden, if you're in the military and you don't laugh at his dumb jokes, then you're dull or stupidpic.twitter.com/j8VtTlrXUN https://t.co/2Ec9IyBrY6
— Zach Parkinson (@AZachParkinson) May 19, 2021
The insult against Coast Guard graduates comes less than 24 hours after Biden joked about running over a reporter in response to a question about the conflict in Israel and Palestine, prompting hysterical laughter from the media.
