Joe Biden faces backlash for bizarre joke at Boston Celtics victory event at White House: 'Dude's a mess'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden is being mocked online for his latest gaffe as he made a bizarre joke while welcoming the 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics to the White House.

The team was invited to the president’s official residence to celebrate their victory against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night, November 18.

The team members stood behind the POTUS during the event on the South Lawn on Thursday, November 21, as he congratulated them. 

However, he also made a few remarks that were received with a mixture of awkward giggles and shock, as reported by Daily Mail.

Joe Biden said he 'did not know' Boston Celtics players

The 82-year-old politician seemed to confuse the winning team with a fictional Baltimore franchise as he said, “I don't know any of the guys behind me, but they just showed up. I don't know where the hell they came from.”

Biden further stated, “2024 NBA Champion is the Bals…” before he corrected himself and added, “You guys are the Celtics, right?”

He then asserted, “Together you guys built one of the deepest teams of all time. Incredible players like Jayson, Jaylen [Brown], Derrick [White], and Jrue [Holiday]. Big Al [Horford].”

“I know it wasn't easy. You came close more than once. You put in the work, and clocked one of the greatest seasons ever,” Biden noted, as per Fox16.

The outgoing leader, who will be handing over the administration to Donald Trump in early 2025, also quoted legendary NBA head coach Arnold 'Red' Auerbach as he said, “The Celtics aren’t just a basketball team. They’re a way of life.”

Celtics owner called White House ceremony ‘exciting’

Besides, during the event, Biden was even gifted a Celtics jersey by Jayson Tatum.

Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck reportedly said, “This was a very exciting and moving day. We had not been focused on [coming here]. We got through raising the banner, and opening night, and then it was all business, led by [Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla].”

“Joe doesn't really want us to dwell too much on the past. He wants us to move forward. But, having said that, everybody here -- including Joe -- really seemed to have a great time,” he added on a conference call with reporters after the White House event, as per ESPN.

Netizens call Biden ‘stupid damn fool’

Meanwhile, people have reacted to the commander-in-chife’s weird joke. An X user tweeted, “Dudes a mess.”

The second user wrote, “He’s not kidding.”

The third one shared, “Everyone laughs like it's a joke and Biden is thinking ‘no, seriously, where'd they come from and why are they here?’”

“I just keep telling myself, this circus is almost over. It's almost over,” an individual posted.

“Stupid damn fool,” another one remarked.

A person commented, “They all voted Trump!”

“No way Joe Biden forgot who the Boston Celtics are,” the second one added.

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