President Joe Biden’s social media post about his political opponent Donald Trump ahead of a slain police officer’s wake backfired among conservatives.
Biden, the Democratic incumbent, will likely have a rematch against the former president, the presumed 2024 GOP presidential nominee, in November.
On Thursday morning, Biden posted a video to X, formerly Twitter, that jumped from showing himself campaigning in swing states to Trump playing golf.
Audio from MSNBC’s Jonathan Lemire played in the background of the video: “With the president visiting eight swing states in 18 days. Throughout the month, Biden has crisscrossed the country, visiting the Southwest, the Blue Wall and the South.
“Campaign stops focused on border security, reproductive rights, lowering health care and housing costs, as well as celebrating CHIPS And Science Act investments.”
Included in the video was Trump’s social media post rejoicing over receiving two awards from the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Biden wrote alongside the video: “I’ll tell you this: There’s a difference between the two candidates in this election.”
Newsweek reached out to Biden’s campaigns via email on Thursday.
Eros Hoagland/Spencer Platt/Getty Images
While Biden’s message appeared to be aimed at showing his effectiveness in the Oval Office and on the campaign trail, compared to Trump’s unimportant golfing activities, conservatives on social media used the president’s words against him.
Conservative journalist Libby Emmons shared Biden’s post and wrote on X: “You tweeted this as Trump is attending a slain NYPD officer’s funeral and you are partying with Lizzo. There’s a difference indeed.”
On Thursday afternoon, Trump attended the wake of New York Police Department Officer Jonathan Diller in Massapequa Park, New York, in Long Island. Diller was fatally shot during a traffic stop in Queens on Monday evening. Guy Rivera was charged with first-degree murder of a police officer, among other charges, on Thursday.
“We have to stop it. We have to get back to law and order … because this is not working. This is happening too often,” Trump said at the funeral home while sharing his condolences with Diller’s family.
The Biden campaign was busy preparing to pull in more than $25 million in a major fundraiser in New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on Thursday night. The star-studded event will feature former Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, music powerhouses Queen Latifah and Lizzo, and much more.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday said that Biden spoke to New York City Mayor Eric Adams and offered his condolences regarding Diller.
“The president offered Mayor Adams, the city of New York, and the New York Police Department his full support in the wake of the tragedy,” Jean-Pierre told reporters.
When reached for comment by Newsweek, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung referred to his X post from Thursday: “President Trump will be honoring the legacy of Officer Diller and paying respects to his family, friends, and the NYPD.
“Meanwhile, the Three Stooges—Biden, Obama, and Clinton—will be at a glitzy fundraiser in the city with their elitist, out-of-touch celebrity benefactors.”
Charlie Kirk, founder and CEO of conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA, reposted Emmons’ comments. He also posted a video of Trump speaking at Diller’s wake and wrote: “President Trump speaks at the wake of slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller while Joe Biden parties in luxury at $500,000 a ticket in NYC.”
X user Paul A. Szypula, who has 138,300 followers, wrote: “Biden is fundraising with elites today while Trump is honoring a fallen NYPD officer. That’s the difference.”
“There’s a difference between the two candidates in this election,” X user @Pismo_B, who has 116,100 followers, wrote.
The social media user also shared two different headlines from NBC News and USA Today, respectively—”Trump expected to attend wake of slain NYPD officer,” which the poster called “America First,” and “Biden to bring out the celebrities at high-dollar fundraiser with Obama, Clinton,” which the user called “America Last.”
X user @Brash_1, who has 11,400 followers, shared an article from the New York Post about Trump and Biden’s dueling schedules Thursday, writing: “You’re absolutely right, Joe. It couldn’t be more clear.”
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.