Biden’s Jarring Use of Expletives: A Lapse in Judgment?

Donald Trump brought an unprecedented approach to the presidency, marked by audacious ways of expressing his sentiments. During a particular instance on June 24, he broke the ‘live’ television barrier by uttering an expletive, aimed at conveying his aggravation with Iran and Israel’s breach of a ceasefire mere hours after initiation. Although such colorful language from a US president is enough to cause a stir, it is worth noting that this was hardly a unique case in American political history.

Following the ceasefire, Israel, through Tel Aviv, cast allegations on Tehran for firing missiles at them. Israel Katz, Defense Minister, articulately referred to this act as a ‘violation of the ceasefire’ and urged the Israeli armed forces to reciprocate with a forceful response. Trump’s view of the situation, characterized by his distinctive style of speech, was that both nations needed to ‘calm down’, and highlighted a single rocket that was improperly launched post the ceasefire deadline.

Statements of such robust nature are not uncommon in Trump’s repertoire. Specifically, in 2018, the former president used an unsavory term in reference to Haiti and various African countries, questioning why the United States would accept immigrants from such regions over others, such as Norway.

Speaking of using strong language, one cannot overlook Joe Biden’s liberty with language during his time as Vice President. Unaware of an operational microphone, Biden slipped a hefty expletive while notifying Barack Obama about the passing of the Affordable Care Act, undeniably a rather significant event. Indubitably, it portrayed a loose use of curse words that seemed to be a low point in his Vice Presidential tenure.

Another instance where Biden demonstrated his penchant for salty language was when he aimed an insult at Fox News reporter Peter Doocy. It was not a proud moment for Biden as he later felt compelled to personally apologize to the reporter as a remedial step for his ill-judged comment.

Interestingly, Biden’s ex-boss Barack Obama, known for his composed demeanor, also had a similar incident. Bieber fan and rapper Kanye West was labeled a ‘jacka**’ by Obama post his infamous interruption of Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards—a moment that left the audience and viewers astonished.

In another scenario, Obama trained his verbal animosity at Mitt Romney, his rival for the presidential race in 2012. In an interview for the revered Rolling Stone magazine, Obama termed Romney a ‘serial bullshi***r’, a comment that definitely did not go unnoticed.

Prevailing within the sphere of presidential obscenities, a notable mention goes to George W Bush. While sharing a campaign trail moment with his running mate, Dick Cheney, on the edge of the millennia, Bush remarked on New York Times reporter Adam Clymer in an unflattering manner—a moment indiscreetly caught on a hot-mic. Consistent with his casual demeanor, he played off the incident in jest during a press corps dinner later.

However, the grandmaster of presidential expletives is arguably Harry Truman. Known for his virulent verbosity, he did not shy away from attaching ‘dumb son of a b**ch’ to the name of General Douglas MacArthur or branding Richard Nixon as a ‘shifty-eyed god***ed liar.’ The intensity of such remarks surpasses what most of his successors dared to voice.

Interestingly, in the annals of American politics, a fair share of the country’s leadership has stumbled into the pitfall of using harsh language. Unfortunately, these outbursts often make headlines, clouding the significance of the leader’s objectives and responsibilities.

While it’s enshrined in human nature to err, it appears that the pressure cooker of national politics can amplify this propensity—the expletive incidents of Biden, incidentally, seem to make a case in point. Given his two high profile gaffes, one might wonder if Biden’s loose usage of expletives somehow indicates a proclivity for a lapse in judgment, or perhaps, an inherent disregard for the formality and decorum expected of someone in his position.

Certainly, inappropriate language is hardly above reproach, regardless of who utters it. Nevertheless, it’s alarming to note the frequency with which high-profile political figures such as Biden resort to such language. One could be tempted to liken it with the audacious rupture of the accepted norm, a behavior they seem to exhibit with an unsettling frequency.

Ultimately, these incidents serve as a reminder of the immense scrutiny public figures are under, the standards they are expected to adhere to, and the potentially irreversible damage that can ensue from a single moment of lost composure. Particularly in case of encumbent President Joe Biden, the necessity to uphold these standards seems more compelling than ever.