President Joe Biden showed his feisty side on Monday when a heckler interrupted his speech in Milwaukee.
It’s not clear what the heckler was yelling about, but Biden responded with a “God love ya.”
As security moved toward the heckler, Biden urged them to back off.
“Let him go,” Biden said. “Look, everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”
“No, no,” he said. “Everybody is entitled, OK?”
Biden responds to heckler: Let him go. Everyone is entitled to be an idiot pic.twitter.com/fFbeiHcMAt — Acyn (@Acyn) September 5, 2022
Despite the president’s comments, footage showed event security escorting the man out of the area.
Biden used a similar line last week when protesters interrupted a speech he gave in Philadelphia, minus the “idiot” part.
“They’re entitled to be outrageous, this is a democracy,” he said, but added: “Good manners is nothing they’ve ever suffered from, but history and common sense tell us that opportunity, liberty and justice for all are most likely to come to pass in a democracy.”
Former President Donald Trump took the opposite approach at his rallies.
“Get him out! ” Trump ordered followers when a protester interrupted his speech during the 2016 campaign. “Try not to hurt him. If you do, I’ll defend you in court. Don’t worry about it.”
At another rally, Trump worried that protesters might have tomatoes.
“If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them,” he said. “I’ll pay the legal fees.”
At a winter event in Vermont, Trump told security to take protesters’ coats before kicking them out.
“Throw them out into the cold,” he said. “Don’t give them their coats. No coats! Confiscate their coats.”
Biden asking security to let the “idiot” stay was celebrated by his supporters on social media, many of whom embraced the “Dark Brandon” meme and nickname that’s taken hold in recent weeks:
Dark Brandon strikes again https://t.co/pHj2Ydecng — Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) September 5, 2022
Biden tells the crowd to let a heckler go because "everyone's entitled to be an idiot."
Dark Brandon is slaying it.pic.twitter.com/O1xW2ToWQN — Michael J. Stern (@MichaelJStern1) September 5, 2022
#DarkBrandon shutting down a protester by saying, "Everyone has the right to be an idiot" 🔥https://t.co/9nqYzCXRt2 — Tara Dublin (@taradublinrocks) September 5, 2022
“Everyone’s entitled to be an idiot” 🤣😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I love this Dark Brandon! https://t.co/NIUVxQDvvj pic.twitter.com/LoaDEFsUi2 — Brian #MSAwareness (@StormingB81) September 5, 2022
I guarantee you that tomorrow the MAGA republicans will switch their GOP talking point of the day to "he called half the county idiots"
Dark Brandon is NOT playing & I am here for it!!#VoteBlueToSaveDemocracy #FreshResists #LaborDay2022 https://t.co/HRIO8GM81R — 🌊Sheryl Lynne #MyBodyMyChoice (@shossy2) September 5, 2022
Joe Biden goes Dark Brandon mode: "LOOK. Everybody is entitled to be an idiot." 😂🤣🤣👊 pic.twitter.com/Avz3rQHm03 — 💥Tequila•Boom•Boom💥 (@IAm_THEPaulina) September 5, 2022
Looks like I found the title of my memoir. https://t.co/vNCTOfciJF — Alex Cohen (@voiceofcohen) September 5, 2022
jsntsy on September 6th, 2022 at 13:38 UTC »
Has there been some sort of staff shake-up at the White House? Seems like up until a month ago they’ve been constantly trying to walk back every perceived gaffe, but now it’s like they not only dgaf, they’re fully on board with Biden speaking his mind.
bndboo on September 6th, 2022 at 12:53 UTC »
SlyTrout on September 6th, 2022 at 10:39 UTC »
I like this new Joe Biden. Where the heck has he been the last year and a half?