'What are the odds': Joe Biden trolled for bragging about high school football skills, claims he was 'runner-up in state championship'

WASHINGTON, DC: In a recent speech at a summit of Native American nations, President Joe Biden stirred social media by boasting about his high school football accomplishments, reigniting concerns about his tendency to embellish details about his life.

The 81-year-old president recounted a pivotal moment in his youth when he had to choose between playing lacrosse and football, ultimately opting for football because of his prowess on the gridiron.

A closer look at Joe Biden's claims

"You couldn't play both in the same season," explained Biden, describing himself as a "powerful, 6-foot, 158-pound, flanker back," eliciting laughter from the audience. Seeking to justify his decision, he went on to claim, "I was the runner-up at the state scoring championship. Don't laugh, man."

However, historical records present a different narrative. In 1960, Biden finished fifth in the "conference scoring race," scoring four touchdowns, totaling 24 points, according to a 2020 article in the Daily Pennsylvanian.

When factoring in Archmere Academy's four non-conference games, Biden's point total for the year reached 60, placing him among the highest scorers in Delaware. It remains uncertain whether he was indeed the "runner-up" in the state that year.

This isn't the first time Biden has made claims about his football career that turned out to be inaccurate.

In 2012, he falsely asserted being part of the University of Delaware Blue Hens football team that defeated the Ohio Bobcats in 1963.

“I just double-checked my memory, you know, you get to my age, and you’re not so sure you remember. You know, your glory days look more glorious than they really were,” Biden said at the Ohio campaign stop at the time. “I went back on the internet, and I just want you to know that I came here on Oct. 19, 1963, and we beat you Bobcats, 29-12.”

The university later clarified that Biden did not play in that game, as he was a freshman at the time and ineligible for the varsity squad, the New York Post reported.

Social media reactions

Social media erupted with reactions to Biden's football boasts.

"Biden is such a compulsive liar, he was probably the water boy," one posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"Biden was a star football player. That’s when he was a big rig truck driver, and logger, going to law school. And he still has time to make it to Catholic mass every morning and go to the black church every Sunday," another joked.

"What’s the odds that Biden didn’t even make the football team," a comment read.

"What about the time you got your Super Bowl ring Joe? After you walked through the Himalayas with Xi," someone else quipped.

"Did he also tell y'all the story that he was there with Abraham Lincoln to free the slaves?" another added. 

Joe Biden's history of fabrications

Biden's propensity for embellishment extends beyond his football anecdotes. The Washington Times reports a history of fabrications, dating back to the 1980s when Biden first ran for president. His campaign faced controversy over plagiarizing speeches from prominent figures like Neil Kinnock and Robert F Kennedy.

Additionally, Biden made baseless claims about academic achievements, including asserting he graduated in the top half of his law school class. However, records indicate he finished 76th out of 85, casting doubt on the accuracy of his self-reported academic standing.

Civil rights activist Shaun King accused Biden of being a "baldfaced liar" regarding his alleged involvement in the 1960s civil rights movement.

“Joe Biden … on the backs of people who actually paid an enormous price for being activists and organizers in the Civil Rights Movement, [creates] a completely false narrative of his work and contributions," King alleged, as quoted by the Times.

That said, the latest claims add to a pattern of misleading statements, raising questions about the accuracy of Biden's narratives about his past experiences.

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.