On Tuesday, President Joe Biden watched his son’s conviction on three felony counts related to lying about his illegal drug use on an application to buy a firearm. Then, he spoke at a conference to trumpet his administration’s efforts for stricter enforcement of gun laws.
Biden was facing an obvious tension. It’s no wonder that he told four lies in 60 seconds.
Here’s a fact check.
1. Biden claimed to have been a professor at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania.
“When I was no longer vice president, I became a professor at the University of Pennsylvania,” he claimed.
In fact, Biden was named an honorary professor, a title common for retired politicians. He bestowed his name to the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, which is a policymaking institute but not an academic department.
In other words, Biden chose Penn as the site of his vanity project, and he more resembled a guest lecturer than a professor.
2. Biden claimed to be an expert in the Second Amendment by teaching constitutional law classes.
“I taught a constitutional law class. So I taught the Second Amendment,” Biden said.
Biden has, in fact, lectured in a few basic law classes. After being elected vice president, he taught a class on “Issues in Constitutional Law.”
However, no instructor becomes an expert on every part of the Second Amendment by teaching a general Constitution class.
3. Biden claimed that Thomas Jefferson made some controversial remark about “the blood of liberty.”
“How much have you heard this phrase? ‘The blood of liberty washes those,'” Biden said. “Give me a break.”
According to legend, Thomas Jefferson once said, “The tree of liberty is watered with the blood of patriots” — saying that democracy must be defended by patriots with violence if necessary.
He did not mention “the blood of liberty.”
He certainly didn’t say, “The blood of liberty washes those.”
4. Biden claimed that the Second Amendment didn’t allow Americans to own cannons during the Civil War.
“There’s never been a time that says you could own anything you want,” Biden said. “You couldn’t own a cannon during the Civil War.”
Some Americans did, in fact, own cannons in the 1800s.
In fact, some private citizens still do own cannons.
Take a look at this 56-second clip —
Joe Biden in less than a minute:
– Claims he was a professor at UPenn, which he never was
– Claims he taught a constitutional law class on the second amendment, which he never did
– Says that you couldn't own a cannon when 2A was implemented, which you could
– And ends by… pic.twitter.com/64nA2qwmW0— Greg Price (@greg_price11) June 11, 2024
WATCH: Pro-Hamas protesters interrupt Joe Biden's speech on gun control. pic.twitter.com/RygpzoYm6i
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) June 11, 2024
A fact check on Biden’s speech today, one I have done many times: You can own a cannon. pic.twitter.com/LIuLje5bm0
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) June 11, 2024