Joe Biden faces backlash as he bizarrely whistles to get press’ attention during LA wildfire briefing

It was the third day in a row when Joe Biden made a bizarre move while sharing updates on the California fires
Joe Biden whistled to get the attention of the press during a briefing session on the California wildfires on January 10, 2025 (screengrab/@iglesias_gabby X)
Joe Biden whistled to get the attention of the press during a briefing session on the California wildfires on January 10, 2025 (screengrab/@iglesias_gabby X)

WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden has once again garnered attention for a bizarre action of his at the fag end of his presidency. 

The president whistled in the Oval Office to get the attention of the press during a briefing session on the California wildfires on Friday, January 10.



 

Joe Biden bizarrely whistles to get press' attention

During the briefing, the members of the media raised questions about several topics - including the situation in the Middle East and the Ukraine. 

Interestingly, President Joe Biden put his fingers in his mouth and whistled. He said, "Whoa, hey, I'm going to talk a little later this afternoon about a number of things you're asking about. But let's focus on this issue now. But let's focus on this issue now." 

Notably, it was the third day in a row when Biden made a bizarre move while sharing updates on the California fires, which have taken the lives of 10 people and destroyed properties worth millions, according to Daily Mail.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a briefing on the wildfires across Los Angeles in the Oval Office of the White House on January 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Biden convened key officials for a briefing on the federal response to multiple devastating wildfires burning across Los Angeles County which have reportedly killed at least 10 people and spread to more than 36,000 acres. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Joe Biden speaks during a briefing on the wildfires across Los Angeles in the Oval Office of the White House on January 10, 2025, in Washington, DC (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

During the Thursday, January 9, briefing, Biden told officials to "fire away" as he briefed about the devastating fires.

The president assembled Vice President Kamala Harris and other federal officials to update him on where things stood on the wildfires - as three large fires continued to burn through homes and businesses in Southern California, per the outlet.

Biden spoke first and then turned the conversation to Harris, a native of California whose Brentwood home was threatened by the inferno. He said, "I know you're directly affected, so you fire away", that led to Harris making a face.

Moreover, he added, "No pun intended." When other officials took their turns, he used the phrase three more times.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 8: A Firefighter walks by a home on flames from the Palisades Fire during a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The fast-moving wildfire is threatening homes in the coastal neighborhood amid intense Santa Ana Winds and dry conditions in Southern California. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
 A firefighter walks by a home on flames from the Palisades Fire during a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)

Similarly, on Wednesday, January 8, Biden made an odd segway when he was at a Los Angeles fire station and thanked firefighters who were risking their lives to fight the blaze.

 Biden said, "There's only one piece of good news. My son lives out here and his wife and they got notification yesterday their home was probably burned to the ground. Today it appears it may be still standing but not sure. But the good news is, I'm a great-grandfather, as of today."

He added, "My eldest granddaughter had a 10 pound four ounce baby girl - baby boy", as he made a quick correction on the baby's gender.

Internet slams Joe Biden for whistling to get press' attention

Several social media users took a jibe at Joe Biden as he whistled in the Oval Office to get the attention of the press during a briefing session on the California wildfires.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a briefing on the wildfires across Los Angeles in the Oval Office of the White House on January 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Biden convened key officials for a briefing on the federal response to multiple devastating wildfires burning across Los Angeles County which have reportedly killed at least 10 people and spread to more than 36,000 acres. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
President Joe Biden speaks during a briefing on the wildfires across Los Angeles in the Oval Office of the White House on January 10, 2025, in Washington, DC (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

A user said, "When he has to whistle to get attention that shows the level of respect in listening to what he has to say."

Another said, "What 40 years of being a career politician does to your brains."

A person also stated, "His whole presidency has been a wildfire", whereas one mentioned, "Too bad he didn't bite his fingers off!"

A user also wrote, "Don't they have a ROOM somewhere in the White House that they can just LOCK him away in until the 20th?" while one commented, "He can’t even do a proper whistle."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Democrats plan to investigate Donald Trump's use of presidential powers on immigration and the Iran war, citing executive overreach
2026-11-12T02:32:30.000Z
Joe Biden reflected on the pressure that forced him out of the 2024 presidential race and explained how his cancer diagnosis could have changed his re-election decision
2026-11-12T01:51:53.000Z
Ron Johnson and six other Republicans urged a delay, demanding a review of election losses and changes in party leadership
2026-11-11T05:21:52.000Z
Trump accused the BBC of deliberately editing his speech to make it appear he had directly encouraged violent action
2026-11-11T04:47:49.000Z
In his memoir, Joe Biden described the apparent contradiction as 'as if there were two Donald Trumps'
2026-11-11T03:52:24.000Z
Nine Kennedy family members opposed Donald Trump's arch, arguing it would obstruct views of President John F Kennedy’s grave and Eternal Flame
2026-11-11T03:40:32.000Z
US officials have reportedly assessed that Iran's ability to launch attacks within the country and other overseas territories remains limited
2026-11-11T03:18:55.000Z
Mike Johnson called Democrats taking control of the House a 'great tragedy,' saying Republicans could have continued delivering on their agenda
2026-11-11T02:12:06.000Z
Members of both parties in the House, including returning and newly elected lawmakers, meet privately to choose their leaders through secret ballot voting
2026-11-10T20:48:49.000Z
A three-judge panel of a federal appeals court ruled against the Trump administration’s plan to investigate the government’s confidential data leak cases, suggesting access to journalists’ LinkedIn records could impart a 'damaging blow' to First Amendment rights
2026-11-10T20:03:35.000Z