According to Breitbart News, President Joe Biden has repeatedly insisted that he once operated an 18-wheeler despite factual checks proving otherwise. This recurring assertion has sparked discussions about his credibility and memory.
President Biden's initial claim surfaced in 2021 during his visit to a Mack Trucks facility, where he confidently stated, "I used to drive an 18-wheeler, man.” Major news outlets such as CNN promptly challenged and debunked this statement, which found no evidence of Biden ever having driven such a vehicle.
Following the initial controversy, the White House clarified that President Biden had briefly taken up a job driving a school bus and had once been a passenger in a cargo truck. Neither of these instances, however, equates to driving an 18-wheeler.
Despite these clarifications, the president repeated the claim at a college event in 2021 and surprisingly revisited it during a 2024 campaign event in Florida, reigniting debates over his veracity and recollection abilities.
In recent weeks, President Biden also incorrectly narrated an event involving his uncle during World War II. He described his uncle as being “shot down” during a "reconnaissance flight over New Guinea," a statement that had to be corrected when official records from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency clarified that the uncle was merely a passenger and the plane had ditched "for unknown reasons."
This misstatement, combined with the 18-wheeler claim, has compounded public concern regarding Biden's ability to accurately recount past events.
Special counsel Robert Hur described the president as “an elderly man with a poor memory,” echoing a sentiment shared by many who are weighing his capabilities in leading the nation.
These repeated misstatements have sparked a debate on Biden's speech precision and brought his mental and physical fitness into the public arena. Recent polls reveal growing unease among Democrats and Republicans concerning the President's fitness for office in these crucial aspects.
The narrative consistency of any political figure is crucial, especially when public assertions do not align with verifiable facts. Such discrepancies inevitably fuel skepticism about other statements made by the official.
In 2021, Biden described his background with trucks more expansively, saying at a college event, "I used to drive a tractor-trailer, and I only did it for part of a summer, but I got my license anyway." This claim is part of the recurrent confusion and controversy regarding his past experiences.
A review by CNN concluded, “Biden’s claim remains untrue. There is no evidence he ever drove an 18-wheeler.”
As elections approach, the focus on historical accuracy and mental sharpness becomes more pronounced. Voters and political analysts alike scrutinize every word and claim of a campaign, understanding that these elements are critical to leadership quality.
In summary, President Joe Biden's continuous assertions that he once drove an 18-wheeler, despite factual evidence to the contrary, have raised doubts about his memory and honesty. These incidents and other inaccuracies further compound these concerns, posing questions about his overall fitness and transparency while in office.