President Joe Biden appeared to forget the name of a Democratic candidate he was rallying for in Maryland.
During an event at Bowie State University Monday evening, Biden told the crowd, “Here in Maryland, you’ve got some great people to vote for… You got that next governor. What’s his name? Wes … Wes … Wes Moore!”
The president shouted his name as he saw the crowd holding signs up for Moore, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate.
“The guy’s the real deal, man,” Biden said.
He added, “He’s a combat veteran and a Rhodes Scholar. I’ve always worried about Rhodes Scholars, though. They’re so damn smart. I wonder about it, you know?”
Watch the video below:
This moment did not appear to be the only gaffe Biden made during the event.
He seemingly made a gaffe similar to one in 2018 when he said, “Poor kids are just as bright and talented as white kids.”
Biden told the mostly Black audience, “You’re just as smart, you’re just as bright, you’re just as good as any college in America.”
Biden to the crowd at an HBCU: "You're just as smart, you're just as bright, you're just as good as any college in America." pic.twitter.com/Hsf99MIDSQ
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 8, 2022
Twitter users proceeded to criticize Biden for his remark.
One user wrote, “The way this man treats black people––like little children––is so damn offensive. Why say this abut an HBCU? Just as smart as who? What are you trying to say with this nonsense?”
The way this man treats black people––like little children––is so damn offensive. Why say this abut an HBCU? Just as smart as who? What are you trying to say with this nonsense? https://t.co/oC49Fv5nBx
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) November 8, 2022
Another wrote, “This guy is such a racist. Even in his attempt to ‘compliment’ the black community, it is always a back handed slip up of how he really views us.”
This guy is such a racist. Even in his attempt to “compliment” the black community, it is always a back handed slip up of how he really views us. https://t.co/h6445RfiiN
— Bree (@SummaCumLoudee) November 8, 2022
One tweet read, “The soft bigotry of low expectations.”
The soft bigotry of low expectations. https://t.co/aPzKQoIcvE
— Kelsey Bolar (Harkness) (@kelseybolar) November 8, 2022
Moore is running against his Republican opponent Dan Cox to replace Gov. Larry Hogan as the state’s next governor.
Last month, while speaking at the banquet hall of Asbury United Methodist Church, Moore spoke out against the “MAGA movement.”
He explained, “Here you’ve got a guy with an American flag and a Trump flag, and for so many people in our society, they think those two things are synonymous with each other. Right?”
Moore continued, “That’s what we’re pushing back against right there. The idea that somehow we’ve allowed this MAGA movement to control this idea of patriotism and try to define what it means to be a patriot and what it means to defend your country.”
Last week, The Washington Post reported polls show Moore with a “commanding” lead heading into Election Day.
