Biden calls out for late Rep. Jackie Walorski at White House hunger event

29 Sep 2022

Biden mistakenly called out for the Indiana Republican who died in a car crash in August. She had cosponsored a bill to fund the conference.

Updated September 28, 2022, 2:51 PM ET

While opening remarks at a White House conference about hunger, nutrition, and health, President Joe Biden incorrectly called out for Rep. Jackie Walorski.

Walorski was one the four cosponsors of a bill to finance the conference. He had also been an advocate for reducing American hunger.

"Jackie! Are you here?" He looked out at the audience Wednesday morning and asked, "Where's Jackie?" "She was going be here."

August saw Jill Biden, first lady of Biden, issue a statement in which they expressed their condolences for Walorski's death.

Biden stated in August that she appreciated Biden's partnership as they plan for a historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in the fall. The conference will be marked with her deep care for rural America. "We send our deepest condolences, Dean, to her husband and to the families Zachery Potts, Emma Thomson, and the people of Indiana's Second District, who lost a representative.

In memory of Walorski and her aides, the White House flew flags at half-staff.

In remarks after Biden's speech, Rep. Jim McGovern (D–MA) extended condolences to Walorski. White House policy advisor Susan Rice stated that she misses Walorski and was beginning a panel session with lawmakers after the president's remarks.

A pre-produced video tribute to Walorski played on the main stage during the conference's afternoon. The video featured Walorski's advocacy of hunger relief on the Hill, both on the floor as well as in hearings.

Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, did not admit that Biden had misspoken at an afternoon briefing. Jean-Pierre stated to reporters, many of whom demanded more information, that Walorski was top of Biden's mind when he named the congressional champions at the hunger conference. She said that the president would honor Walorski Friday by signing a bill to rename an Indiana VA clinic after her. "That was what he was thinking about. Jean-Pierre stated that he was thinking about her.

Biden is known for making gaffes in his past.

Biden has previously called himself "a gaffe machine" — a nod to his long history of verbal missteps.

Biden has made many mistakes as president. One example is when he forgot Scott Morrison's name, the former prime minister of Australia, one year ago during a video conference about a new defense partnership. He called him "that fellow Down Under"

Critics have raised concerns about whether Biden's age, the oldest person to hold this office, is a hindrance. Biden stated that people should not look at his age, but the job he does in an interview with 60 minutes.

He said, "It all comes down to how energetic you are and whether the job you're doing is comparable to what anyone of any age could do."

Biden stated that there aren't things I don't do anymore than I did before, regardless of whether it's mental, physical, or any other. Scott Pelley, the interviewer, joked that he had not noticed his string of legislative success and said: "How does an old man do that?"