President Joe Biden just can’t help himself. He loves telling people on elevated surfaces not to jump. While the quip often leaves people feeling uneasy — perhaps because they might be wondering whether or not he is joking about someone jumping from a high place — his latest rendition of one of his favorite lines was awkward for other reasons.
On Wednesday, the commander-in-chief shouted, “Don’t jump!” during a photo opportunity with a group featuring Paralympic athletes, many of whom of course, literally cannot jump due to their physical conditions.
Biden welcomed roughly 600 members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams from the Tokyo and Beijing Games at the White House on Wednesday. From the White House South Lawn, he commended the athletes for their hard work and the honor of representing the United States. However, the event became noticeably awkward when he yelled, “Don’t jump!” a mere few feet away from wheelchair-bound individuals.
The bizarre comment can be seen here:
Biden during photo op for Paralympic athletes: “Don’t jump!” pic.twitter.com/kYTqjDWken
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) May 4, 2022
Based on the video, it would appear the president yelled it at somebody in the crowd, possibly the photographer.
Regardless, this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Biden has actually made similar comments numerous times before.
For example, on the campaign trail in August 2020, Biden responded, “Don’t jump” to a man who was waving a Trump flag as he stood on top of a truck.
Biden was being heckled by a Trump supporter as he arrived to deliver pizzas. The man was waving a Trump flag as he stood on top of a truck. Biden’s response to him: “Don’t jump.” pic.twitter.com/yWIOIJ6IPB
— Tyler Pager (@tylerpager) August 31, 2020
In October 2020, also as a candidate, Biden told a young black man asking why black Americans should support him to not take a leap either. “Don’t jump, Cedric, you look like you’re way up there,” he said to Cedric Humphrey standing on a balcony before he asked his question.
In September of 2021, Biden also told a seven-year-old boy not to jump from a balcony in New Jersey.
Those comments can be seen here:
Why does Biden tell a 7-year-old boy "don't jump" from a balcony? This is *not* normal.🔻 pic.twitter.com/aA7WEahFTk
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) September 7, 2021
In March of 2021, Biden said, “Don’t jump, we need you,” to a group of staff at a hardware store in Washington, D.C., who were watching from the balcony.
Biden, double masked, is at Jenks hardware store in northeast DC. “Don’t jump, we need you,” he tells store staff, who are watching from a balcony. pic.twitter.com/wVBbTAga1G
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) March 9, 2021
The incidents compiled are not an all-encompassing list either. Biden has said it on other occasions, but the video evidence shows that each time he says it, his audience appears to laugh uncomfortably.
That is probably because “Don’t jump!” could be interpreted as a joke about somebody jumping to their demise. For some, it is a little off-putting hearing that joke uttered from a public servant like Biden.
Regardless, Biden’s remarks on Wednesday at the very least seem a bit out-of-touch. Why would anyone yell, “Don’t jump!” during a photo with people who couldn’t possibly jump even if they wanted to?
The scene was reminiscent of the time on the campaign trail in 2008 when a younger Biden told Missouri state Senator Chuck Graham to stand up. Graham, who passed away in 2020, was in a wheelchair due to an automobile accident and couldn’t stand up. Biden quickly corrected his comments requesting that the crowd stand up for Graham instead. That incident can be seen here:
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.