Joe Biden is once again facing backlash after making what many are calling an inappropriate and “disgusting” joke during his remarks on the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. As fires continue to ravage Los Angeles County—destroying thousands of homes, displacing tens of thousands of residents, and claiming at least five lives—Biden’s attempt at humor struck a nerve with many Americans.
During a Thursday briefing on the federal government’s response to the Pacific Palisades wildfires, Biden turned the floor over to Kamala Harris, who is a California native. But before doing so, he quipped, “Madam Vice President, I know you’re directly affected. So you fire away, no pun intended.”
The comment, clearly intended as a lighthearted pun, was met with swift outrage on social media. Critics condemned Biden for being tone-deaf in the face of a natural disaster.
OOF! Joe Biden to Kamala at meeting on deadly wildfires:
"Fire away! No pun intended."🥴 pic.twitter.com/roqgtJT12v
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 9, 2025
“WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS DUDE,” exclaimed RedState writer Bonchie.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS DUDE https://t.co/tpr52H36YO
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) January 9, 2025
“Is the empathy in the room with you now?” asked Townhall.com video editor Kevin McMahon.
Is the empathy in the room with you now? https://t.co/RtYvZbrNN8 pic.twitter.com/5lEZtk6hU1
— Kevin McMahon (@Kevin__McMahon) January 9, 2025
Columnist Derek Hunter didn’t hold back, suggesting, “Most of the time, @JoeBiden is just a mean, vindictive person (has been his whole career), but in this case, I think this can be blamed on his senility.”
"Fire away. No pun intended."
Most of the time, @JoeBiden is just a mean, vindictive person (has been his whole career), but in this case I think this can be blamed on his senility. pic.twitter.com/aciXx7vZxk— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) January 9, 2025
Even The Spectator contributing editor Stephen Miller chimed in, noting, “Even Kamala at this point is like, ‘You serious dude?’”
Even Kamala at this point is like "You serious dude?" https://t.co/29he5evi7G
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) January 9, 2025
Criticism also poured in from popular conservative voices. Libs of TikTok called the comment “completely tone deaf,” while Steve Guest slammed Biden as a “jerk.” Conservative writer Ben Kew summed it up succinctly: “Probably not the time to be making puns.”
Biden: "Fire away. No pun intended."
Completely tone deaf. pic.twitter.com/1cnj9gAPXa
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 9, 2025
Despite the backlash, Biden attempted to reassure Californians that the federal government was committed to helping. He announced that the federal government would cover 100% of disaster response costs for the next 180 days, including debris removal, hazard material cleanup, temporary shelters, and first responder salaries. “Spare no expense,” Biden stated, emphasizing that the administration was doing “literally everything we can at the federal level.”
However, this isn’t the first time Biden’s sense of humor has landed him in hot water during national tragedies. Just one day earlier, during a meeting with California Governor Gavin Newsom and firefighter officials, Biden drew criticism for shifting focus to announce the birth of his first great-grandson amid discussions of wildfire devastation. In 2023, after deadly wildfires in Maui claimed over 100 lives, Biden similarly faced backlash for joking about the heat while petting a search-and-rescue dog wearing protective boots.
As California battles one of its most destructive wildfire seasons, Biden’s offhanded remark only deepens public frustration, with many Americans questioning his empathy and leadership in moments of crisis.
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