President Joe Biden is under fire over the language he used while extending his sympathy over the unexpected passing of a colleague to a White House guest.
During an event at the White House on Thursday, Biden took a little detour from his remarks to offer his condolences to the CEO of Jo-Ann Stores over the unexpected passing of the company’s chief financial officer.
But his remarks horrified some watchers who found his language quite insensitive.
“By the way, my sympathies to the family of your… CFO who dropped dead very unexpectedly,” Biden said. “My best to their family.”
He added, “That’s tough stuff.”
Watch the moment below:
Joe Biden to the CEO of Jo-Ann Stores: "My sympathies to the family of your, uh, your CFO, who dropped dead very unexpectedly." pic.twitter.com/G6gSmDa1z5
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 16, 2022
Check out some of the comments below:
Stay classy Joe. https://t.co/NcVmX6W2Ij
— Larry Behrens 🇺🇸 (@larrybehrens) June 16, 2022
Much poetic https://t.co/2px4NpnIwI
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) June 16, 2022
Geeeeeeez guy… soulless. Can't imagine the left's outrage if Trump had said this verbatim. https://t.co/DqbiwR1wAF
— Five Times August (@FiveTimesAugust) June 16, 2022
https://twitter.com/cameron_arcand/status/1537540085008240643
“Empathy matters. Compassion matters.” – Joe Biden (2020) https://t.co/sr3lJF5oSK
— Charles Correll III (@_CharlesCorrell) June 16, 2022
Not knowing who you’re talking about, then saying the deceased “dropped dead” is certainly an interesting way to offer condolences https://t.co/NKnGNdMnKD
— Jake Schneider (@jacobkschneider) June 16, 2022
Biden to a guest at his speech:
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) June 16, 2022
"My sympathies to the family of your… uhhh… CFO who dropped dead very unexpectedly." pic.twitter.com/WmfJ2o8Mlk
I can always tell someone is genuinely saddened for my loss when they use the term “dropped dead.” 😳 https://t.co/6wgez0KyhU
— Sara Gonzales (@SaraGonzalesTX) June 16, 2022
I…man. I don’t know. https://t.co/KWRi0lWvb1
— Luke Thompson (@ltthompso) June 16, 2022
His last remaining super power was sympathy for those who'd lost family. https://t.co/kSpLeySNrs
— Christopher Bedford (@CBedfordDC) June 16, 2022
There is no doubt that Biden meant well, and having the leader of the free world pass along his sympathies for the passing of your colleague would hopefully be a meaningful moment for the person on the receiving end.
But using the phrase “dropped dead” instead of “passed away” or even “died” is not the best choice of words and, as many observers unfortunately noted, comes off as tone-deaf or insensitive.
