Joe Biden

Dropped out of the 2024 race claiming he could beat Trump — then endorsed Kamala Harris within 24 hours

"I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America's future, all make me the best candidate to run against Donald Trump."

Biden made this statement in April 2024. Three months later he withdrew from the race, citing his ability to serve — despite having just insisted he was the best candidate. He endorsed Harris within hours.

Vacationed at private beach home during multiple national crises while staff told reporters he was 'working'

Biden spent extensive time at his private Delaware beach home during crises including the Afghanistan withdrawal, the East Palestine train derailment, and the Maui wildfires — while his press office insisted he was working.

Promised to cancel student loan debt on day one — took three years and got struck down by his own Supreme Court appointees

"I will move to eliminate the bulk of [student debt] immediately."

Biden promised fast student loan cancellation as a candidate. His administration's plan was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2023. His piecemeal forgiveness programs were repeatedly blocked by courts.

Said he would not weaponize the DOJ against political opponents — his DOJ prosecuted Trump twice

"I will not do what this president does and use the Justice Department as my vehicle to insist that something happen."

Biden made this promise in 2020. His DOJ brought two federal prosecutions against Donald Trump — his chief political opponent — while Biden was running for re-election against him.

Shook hands with thin air after a speech — multiple times

Biden turned and appeared to shake hands with nobody after speeches on multiple occasions. The clips went viral each time and became a symbol of questions about his cognitive decline.

Claimed his house burned down with his wife inside — it was a small kitchen fire

"We didn't have — we didn't have — I almost lost my wife, my '67 Corvette, and my cat."

Biden repeatedly described a dramatic house fire that almost killed his wife. Contemporaneous reporting showed it was a small kitchen fire that caused minimal damage. His wife was not in danger.

Promised to unite the country — then called MAGA Republicans a 'threat to democracy' in a primetime speech with red lighting

"Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our Republic."

Biden ran on unity and healing. In September 2022 he gave a primetime address — flanked by Marines, bathed in red light — declaring his political opponents a threat to democracy.

Pledged no new taxes on anyone making under $400,000 — then pushed for expanded IRS audits targeting middle class

"Nobody making under 400,000 bucks would have their taxes raised, period."

Biden repeatedly pledged no tax increases on anyone under $400K. His Inflation Reduction Act funded 87,000 new IRS agents — with audits projected to significantly increase on middle-income earners.

Said inflation was 'transitory' — it hit a 40-year high on his watch

"Our experts believe… it's transitory, it's not going to be a long-term problem."

The Biden administration repeatedly insisted rising inflation was temporary throughout 2021. Inflation reached a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022 — the highest since 1981.

Fell off his bicycle on a flat road at full stop — then told reporters 'I'm good'

"I'm good, I'm good."

Biden fell sideways off his bicycle in June 2022 while stopped to greet supporters in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. He was not injured. The incident went viral globally.

Promised to end 'forever wars' — the Afghanistan withdrawal became one of the most chaotic in US history

"It's time to end the forever war."

Biden's pledge to end the Afghanistan war resulted in a chaotic August 2021 withdrawal. 13 US service members were killed in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport. Images of Afghans clinging to departing planes went around the world.

Held a superspreader birthday party for his brother maskless — days after scolding Americans about masks

In August 2021 Biden attended his brother Frank's birthday party indoors with dozens of guests maskless — while his White House was publicly urging Americans to wear masks indoors amid the Delta surge.

Claimed Amtrak conductor 'came up to him' and praised his train miles — the conductor had been dead for years

"And a guy named Angelo Negri came up and he grabbed my arm… and he said, 'Joey, baby…'"

Biden told this story repeatedly. When journalists checked, they found Angelo Negri had retired from Amtrak in 1993 and died in 2014 — meaning the interaction Biden described could not have happened as told.

Wore a mask alone outdoors on Zoom then immediately took it off when he thought the call ended

Biden wore his mask while alone at a Zoom call in February 2021 making a point about mask-wearing. The moment he thought the call ended he immediately removed it — not realizing cameras were still rolling.

Promised to shut down the virus not the economy — US hit 1 million COVID deaths on his watch

"I'm going to shut down the virus, not the economy."

Biden's central 2020 campaign promise was that he would handle COVID better than Trump. The US surpassed 1 million COVID deaths in May 2022 under his presidency.

Said he drove an 18-wheeler — he didn't

"I used to drive an 18-wheeler, man."

Biden claimed on multiple occasions to have driven an 18-wheeler truck. His campaign could not provide evidence this ever happened. He had said something similar in 2020 and it was similarly unverifiable.

Endorsed 'defund the police' adjacent policies in 2020 — then claimed he never supported defunding police

"Yes, absolutely."

When asked in 2020 whether funding should be redirected from police, Biden said 'yes, absolutely.' He later repeatedly denied ever supporting defunding police and attacked Republicans for falsely claiming he did.

'You ain't black' — told a Black radio host that Black Americans who consider voting for Trump aren't really Black

"If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black."

Biden said this to Charlamagne tha God on The Breakfast Club in May 2020. The comment caused widespread backlash. Biden later called it a poor choice of words.

Repeatedly claimed he was arrested during a civil rights march — the story was false

"I was arrested… trying to see [Nelson Mandela]."

Biden told this story multiple times on the campaign trail. The Washington Post and others could find no evidence it ever happened. Biden's own Senate files showed no such arrest.

Said 'No more drilling on federal lands. Period.' — then approved 199 new oil wells in Alaska

"No more drilling on federal lands. Period. Period. Period. Period."

Biden made this promise repeatedly during his 2020 campaign. In March 2023 he approved the Willow Project — a 30-year drilling operation with up to 199 wells on federal land in Alaska. PolitiFact rated it a Full Flop.

Said he visited the Pittsburgh synagogue after the 2018 massacre — he didn't

"I remember spending time at the — you know, going to the — the, ah — the Tree of Life synagogue."

Biden claimed during the 2020 campaign to have visited the Tree of Life synagogue after the 2018 shooting. The synagogue's rabbi confirmed Biden had not visited.

Said he opposed the Iraq War from the start — he voted for it in 2002

"I was opposed to the Iraq war from the beginning."

In a 2019 NPR interview Biden claimed he opposed the Iraq War from the start. In reality he voted yes on the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force and publicly supported the invasion.

Said 'Poor kids are just as bright as white kids' at Iowa State Fair

"Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids."

Biden said this at the Iowa State Fair in August 2019 while discussing education inequality. He quickly tried to correct himself but the clip spread widely.

Called himself a 'gaffe machine' — the receipts are extensive

"I am a gaffe machine."

Biden admitted in his own 2017 memoir that he is a gaffe machine. This self-description proved accurate across decades of public life, and accelerated notably during his presidency.

Plagiarized a British politician's speech during his 1988 presidential run — word for word

Biden withdrew from the 1988 presidential race after it was revealed he had plagiarized major portions of a speech by British Labour leader Neil Kinnock — including biographical details that didn't apply to Biden's own life.