President Joe Biden faced a wave of backlash on social media after he claimed to have visited Ground Zero in New York City one day after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
In delivering remarks to U.S. troops in Alaska on the 22nd anniversary of 9/11, Biden stressed the phrase “never forget” and before speaking of lives being taken too soon when “evil” attacked. He then brought up New York City, where hijackers crashed planes into the towers of the World Trade Center, killing more than 2,700 people.
“Ground Zero in New York, I remember standing there the next day and looking at the building. And I felt like I was looking through the gates of hell” because it “looked so devastating … from where you could stand,” Biden said.
“I join you on this solemn day to renew our sacred vow, ‘never forget.’ … I remember standing [at Ground Zero] the next day and looking at the building. I felt like I was looking through the gates of hell.”
— Pres. Biden commemorates 9/11 at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska pic.twitter.com/reG0FPWwyJ
— The Recount (@therecount) September 11, 2023
But, as many users on X pointed out as clips of his comments went viral, Biden was not at Ground Zero the day after the terror attacks but was in Washington, D.C., speaking out as a U.S. Senator.
“This is a lie! [Biden] WAS NOT at Ground Zero on September 12, 2001,” exclaimed former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik.
“Joe Biden just completely lied about being at Ground Zero the day after 9/11. He was in DC. The Senate convened on 9/12/01 to condemn the attack,” said Greg Price, a conservative communications pro.
Joe Biden today: "Ground Zero in New York — I remember standing there the next day (Sept. 12) and looking at the building. I felt like I was looking through the gates of hell."
Joe Biden was in Washington, DC on September 12, 2001:pic.twitter.com/nHycmnTomp
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) September 11, 2023
“I can’t remember Biden being at Ground Zero on September 12,” said New York Post columnist Miranda Devine, a journalist known for her coverage of the various Hunter Biden scandals.
“Biden claims he visited Ground Zero on 9/12/01 to view the wreckage. He was actually in Washington the whole time. On 9/12/01, the Senate convened at 1:45pm to condemn the attacks. Later that night, Biden did a TV hit **from Washington**,” said Townhall contributor John Hasson.
Biden claims he visited Ground Zero on 9/12/01 to view the wreckage.
He was actually in Washington the whole time.
On 9/12/01, the Senate convened at 1:45pm to condemn the attacks. Later that night, Biden did a TV hit **from Washington** pic.twitter.com/DhNmp8kNxf
— John Hasson (@SonofHas) September 11, 2023
“Did he just poach this memory and description from Hillary Clinton, who actually was there on 9/12/01? Or was he referring to his memory from a week later — the timeline of which he’s misremembered/repackaged for greater emphasis?” asked Fox News contributor Guy Benson.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) simply responded with “Um….,” while former Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker said Biden “even lies about 9/11. He is a disgrace.”
Biden made the stop in Alaska upon returning from a trip to India for a G-20 summit and Vietnam. His vice president, Kamala Harris, visited Ground Zero in Biden’s stead on Monday.
Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy reported that after he asked the White House why Biden did not go to any of the 9/11 attack sites, he received an “analogy” stating that U.S. presidents were not visiting Hawaii anymore to mark Japan’s military attacked Pearl Harbor during World War II after 22 years — yet another explanation that does not hold up to scrutiny.