Dad who told president 'Let's go, Brandon' says he was joking
The 35-year-old father who said "Let's go, Brandon" during a Christmas Eve call with President Biden now says it was an "innocent jest," The Guardian reports.
President Biden and first lady Jill Biden were answering calls to the North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) Santa Tracker hotline when Jared Schmeck called in. Schmeck and the Bidens discussed how Schmeck planned to spend the holiday with his wife and four children, but as they prepared to end the call, Schmeck said "Merry Christmas, and let's go, Brandon."
Jill Biden winced, but the president repeated calmly, "Let's go, Brandon. I agree." The entire incident was being streamed live.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Let's go, Brandon" became a euphemism for "F--k Joe Biden" after a sportscaster mistook the latter for the former at an October NASCAR race. In a report on the Christmas Eve incident, NBC News referred to the phrase as a "right-wing slur."
"At the end of the day I have nothing against Mr. Biden," Schmeck told The Oregonian. "But I am frustrated because I think he can be doing a better job. I mean no disrespect to him." Schmeck also said he is not a "Trumper," describing himself instead as a "free-thinking American and follower of Jesus Christ," and said he is now "being attacked for utilizing my freedom of speech."
"It was merely just an innocent jest to also express my God-given right to express my frustrations in a joking manner," Schmeck said. "I understand there is a vulgar meaning to 'Lets go Brandon,' but I'm not that simple minded," he said at another point, adding later that he "stood 100 percent behind what I did and what I said."
Some commentators have argued that Biden's unruffled response is indicative of his level-headedness and self-confidence.
Others have claimed Biden simply repeated Schmeck's words back to him because he lacked the mental acuity to understand them.
-
Received a windfall? Here is what to do next.The Explainer Avoid falling prey to ‘Sudden Wealth Syndrome’
-
How to save more for retirement next yearthe explainer Secure yourself a suitable nest egg
-
Video games to tackle this winter, including Marvel Cosmic Invasion and Metroid Prime 4: BeyondThe Week Recommends A new entry for the Metroid Prime series makes it out of development hell, plus sequel that brings back the chaotic comedic timing of ‘High on Life’
-
Bari Weiss’ ‘60 Minutes’ scandal is about more than one reportIN THE SPOTLIGHT By blocking an approved segment on a controversial prison holding US deportees in El Salvador, the editor-in-chief of CBS News has become the main story
-
CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ report on Trump deporteesSpeed Read An investigation into the deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s notorious prison was scrapped
-
Trump administration posts sliver of Epstein filesSpeed Read Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, though new photos of both Donald Trump and Bill Clinton emerged
-
Trump HHS moves to end care for trans youthSpeed Read The administration is making sweeping proposals that would eliminate gender-affirming care for Americans under age 18
-
Jack Smith tells House of ‘proof’ of Trump’s crimesSpeed Read President Donald Trump ‘engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,’ hoarded classified documents and ‘repeatedly tried to obstruct justice’
-
House GOP revolt forces vote on ACA subsidiesSpeed Read The new health care bill would lower some costs but not extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies
-
Hegseth rejects release of full boat strike footageSpeed Read There are calls to release video of the military killing two survivors of a Sept. 2 missile strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat
-
Trump vows naval blockade of most Venezuelan oilSpeed Read The announcement further escalates pressure on President Nicolás Maduro
