At Jesse Jackson’s funeral, former President Joe Biden made a remark about attendees’ intelligence that drew quick criticism.
He reflected on overcoming a childhood stutter and how others had underestimated him.
He then said, “It’s the one place where people think you’re stupid.
Oh, really?
I’m a hell of a lot smarter than most of you,” he said, adding that he was joking.
The comment came amid a broader tribute in which he praised Jackson as “determined and tenacious,” “underrated, undeterred, and unafraid.”
The service, billed as “The People’s Celebration,” brought together thousands of mourners to honor Jackson’s legacy.
The late “civil rights” leader garnered a reputation for pushing anti-white policies and shaking down businesses for perceived “racist” comments or conduct.
Notable attendees included three former U.S. presidents: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Biden himself, along with their spouses, Hillary Clinton and Jill Biden.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris was also present, as were figures from entertainment and sports such as filmmaker Tyler Perry, basketball legend Isiah Thomas, and gospel singer BeBe Winans.
Biden at Jesse Jackson’s funeral: “I am a hell of a lot smarter than most of you” pic.twitter.com/toTCZUgHoQ
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) March 6, 2026
Biden’s remark at the service echoes a pattern of verbal missteps that have marked his public career.
For instance, in 2012, while serving as vice president under Barack Obama, Biden addressed a predominantly Black audience in Virginia and warned that Republican policies under Mitt Romney would “put y’all back in chains.”
The then-vice president later clarified that he was discussing economic constraints.
Another example occurred in 2019 during a town hall in Iowa, where Biden stated, “Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids.”
He quickly corrected himself to include “wealthy kids, Black kids, Asian kids,” but the initial wording sparked debate over racial implications.
Biden, 83, is currently undergoing treatment for an aggressive form of prostate cancer after revealing his diagnosis last year.
Initially, Biden began hormone therapy in pill form to manage the cancer’s progression.
By October 2025, his treatment plan advanced to include radiation therapy at Penn Medicine Radiation Oncology in Philadelphia, combined with the ongoing hormone treatment.
The radiation course, lasting five weeks, utilized modern techniques such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for precise targeting with minimal side effects.
Biden completed this phase on October 20, 2025, marking the milestone by ringing a ceremonial bell with his care team.
As of early 2026, Biden’s cancer care remains ongoing, with aides describing his condition as manageable through continued therapy nearly a year after diagnosis.
Reaction and Concern
Many conservatives viewed the joke as another sign of faltering judgment and tone-deafness from a president already under scrutiny.
Critics said the remark reinforced broader doubts about his fitness for public office among Republican and Trump-supporting audiences.
