Potty-training next? White House mocked for promising Biden’s big-boy press meet
The White House has been roasted after promising that President Joe Biden would holding a “big boy” press conference as part of the three-day Nato summit, starting Tuesday in Washington, DC. After White House officials repeated the term “big boy”, first used by a journalist, it faced ridicule and became the target of meme attacks. One of the viral memes featured Biden on a baby diaper packet.
The attack on the White House comes after Biden’s debate debacle against Republican rival Donald Trump and allegations that the President was being shielded from impromptu media intercations.
The term “big-boy” was first used by Bloomberg journalist Justin Sink and later echoed by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
“You’ll certainly hear from the President on Thursday when he gives his press conference, his big-boy press conference,” said Jean-Pierre.
Sink had initially questioned the White House’s strategy of limiting Biden’s exposure to impromptu settings following a poor performance in the first presidential debate held on June 27 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Jean-Pierre denied any strategy to hide Biden’s competence and promised a “solo” press conference, prompting Sink to ask if it would be a “real, big boy press conference”.
Jean-Pierre jokingly responded, “Yeah, I was about to say ‘big boy’ Justin over hereâæ is asking some big boy questions.”
White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby repeated the phrase on Monday, which drew further attention as the President faced calls to step down from the 2024 presidential race.
“The president will hold a press conference, I guess a big boy press conference is what we’re calling it,” Kirby said during the White House briefing.
“This week, President Biden will speak to national labour leaders of the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO), host the NATO summit to show the unprecedented strength of our alliance, hold a press conference, a big boy press conference, according to Justin Singh from Bloomberg,” said Jean-Pierre.
The term “big boy” used for Biden’s press conference, set to take place on Thursday, went viral, sparking ridicule and memes online.
“Biden administration is “not making it any easier” for voters to take them seriously,” Sky News Host Gabriella Power claimed.
“Will they take him to potty training next? I’m sure Doctor Jill will be on standby to help,” Danica De Giorgio, Host of The Jury and Prime Time, co-host of Danica & James at Sky News, reported the Independent.
Power said the American people deserved a leader who was “without a doubt” mentally fit, reported Sky News.
Memes depicted the president on “Biden Big Boy” diapers and as the Big Boy fast-food mascot.
Former Trump Press Secretary Sean Spicer called the phrase “rather unbecoming”.
Libs of TikTok questioned if the administration could be more embarrassing, while others saw no humour in it, reported the Independent.
One right-wing journalist called the joke “pathetic” and said the White House was treating Biden “like a freaking toddler”.
Another critic sarcastically suggested that the administration thought the phrase would improve Biden’s image.
Despite the controversy, Kirby reassured that NATO leaders were not concerned about Biden’s fitness for office.
Biden, in recent speeches and interviews, has insisted he is not stepping down, reaffirming his position during an Independence Day speech, a Friday night interview with George Stephanopoulos, and campaign stops in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
However, six Democratic members of the House have publicly called for Biden to withdraw from the race, with more expressing concerns privately. This anxiety is shared by party donors and a significant portion of the electorate, according to post-debate polls.
