'Dementia Joe': Outrage as Biden says Hamas captive Hersh Goldberg-Polin is ‘here with us today’ at White House Jewish heritage ceremony

Joe Biden faced criticism as he delivered a verbal gaffe during the Rose Garden party
PUBLISHED MAY 21, 2024
Joe Biden faced backlash for saying that Hersh Goldberg-Polin (inset), who has been abducted by Hamas, is ‘here with us today’ during the Rose Garden Party (@RNCResearch/X, @AvivaKlompas/X)
Joe Biden faced backlash for saying that Hersh Goldberg-Polin (inset), who has been abducted by Hamas, is ‘here with us today’ during the Rose Garden Party (@RNCResearch/X, @AvivaKlompas/X)

WASHINGTON, DC: At a White House Jewish heritage ceremony on Monday, May 20, Joe Biden made a terrible error by telling guests that US citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin was "here with us today" while in reality, he is still being held captive in the Gaza Strip. Biden was later compelled to retract his statement, the New York Post reported.

Biden announced at the Rose Garden party, "My administration is working around the clock to free the remaining hostages, just as we have freed hostages already. And here with us today is Hersh Goldberg-Polin."

Joe Biden delivers brutal verbal gaffe at Rose Garden party

Notably, shortly after, the President said, "He is not here with us. But he is still being held by Hamas".

After being abducted from southern Israel on October 7, 2023, Goldberg-Polin, a dual-Israeli citizen, is one of the five known Americans currently in Hamas' captivity.



 

Following his kidnapping, the 23-year-old abductee had one of his hands amputated due to injuries he sustained during the attacks, which claimed the lives of around 1,200 people, including a minimum of 33 Americans. He appeared in a Hamas propaganda video in April.

Edan Alexander, 20, a native of Tenafly, New Jersey, and Omer Neutra, 22, a former resident of New York City, are two more US citizens who are still reportedly being held by Hamas. Both were serving in the Israeli military at the time of the unexpected assault.

(Getty Images)
A few hundred people attended the outdoor event at the White House that President Joe Biden hosted with drink stations beside the famous Rose Garden (Getty Images)

Notably, days before Hunter Biden faces two June trials for suspected tax fraud and firearms offenses, the younger Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland attended the Rose Garden event together, although their previous combined participation at a state banquet last year received unfavorable attention.

A few hundred people attended the outdoor event that Biden hosted with drink stations beside the famous garden. It took place just hours after Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan of the International Criminal Court formally requested an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of war crimes.

Internet slams Joe Biden for his verbal gaffe during Rose Garden party

Several internet users took jibes at Joe Biden as he made a terrible error by telling guests that US citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin was "here with us today" while he is still a captive in the Gaza Strip.

A user wrote on X, "The more embarrassing part is saying you’re working around the clock to free American hostages, and yet it’s been over 7 months and they are now dead or still detained," while one added, "It’s enough now. We’ve had enough."



 



 

One person said, "He always has a huge audience," whereas another mentioned, "So embarrassing. The whole world is laughing at our country."



 



 

One individual wrote, "Dementia Joe," while another added, "'I will not rest' Guarantee you he went to take a nap after this conference."



 



 

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

Jennifer Newsom made the remarks in response to a report that preliminary findings suggested the bombing resulted from a targeting mistake by the US
2 hours ago
McCarthy told Jesse Watters Trump’s Iran military action will be seen as bold leadership that reshaped geopolitics and deterred nuclear threats
4 hours ago
Fetterman says Iran’s new hard‑line leader signals deeper threat and argues US and Israeli strikes are justified to weaken Tehran’s command
4 hours ago
Hakeem Jeffries told supporters the midterms are crucial for Democrats to win back Congress from Republicans currently in power
5 hours ago
Marjorie Taylor Greene also slammed Trump for targeting Rep Thomas Massie (R-KY), who has criticized the Iran attack, during his visit to Kentucky
5 hours ago
Jake Paul went viral after criticizing Bad Bunny’s halftime show as 'un-American' and urging viewers to turn off the broadcast in protest
6 hours ago
Bernie Sanders also pointed to Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, noting that 570 people have been killed and 750,000 displaced in less than two weeks
6 hours ago
Trump said US strikes weakened Iran’s military and missile capabilities, arguing the limited campaign is preventing a broader conflict
7 hours ago
Donald Trump said US agencies are monitoring sleeper networks and threats linked to Iran after the US–Israel operation that killed Ali Khamenei
7 hours ago
Trump revealed that at least 20 name suggestions came before he finalized ‘Operation Epic Fury’
7 hours ago