The outgoing President of America, whose days are numbered in office, made an awkward “good news” announcement during a press briefing about deadly wildfires that have broken out in Southern California. During the press conference, Biden announced that he had become a great-grandfather that day.
A clip of the press conference has been widely circulated on social media with the US President being criticized for “being more concerned about his own family than citizens of the country.”
In the viral clip, the octogenarian leader can be heard saying, “They got notifications yesterday that their homes probably burned to the ground…But, the good news is, I’m a great-grandfather as of today. I’ll remember this day for a lot of reasons.”
Biden’s announcement was received with applause from some individuals present during the press conference.
Biden’s announcement followed the birth of his great-grandson William Brannon Neal IV. It is believed that Joe Biden has become the first sitting president in US history to hold the title of great-grandfather.
Biden also raised concerns over the challenges his family faced due to the wildfires, saying, “It’s astounding what has happened. Only one piece of good news: my son lives out here and his wife. They got a notification yesterday that their home was probably burned to the ground. Today, it appears that it’s still standing, they’re not sure.”
The deadly wildfires that spread across Los Angeles County have claimed at least 5 lives and have engulfed scores of settlements. Thousands of people have been evacuated to safety.
Biden’s statement has stirred mixed reactions on social media.
An X user criticizing Biden for his comment stated, “True to form, Joe Biden is more concerned about his own family than the American people.”
Another user defending the outgoing President wrote, “For those criticizing Joe Biden for mentioning this during his wildfire press conference, it’s important to understand the context. Before sharing the news, he spoke about Hunter having to evacuate his home, which is likely to be lost to the fires. His comments added a personal, human element—showing that even amidst hardship, there are still moments of joy and gratitude to hold onto. Let’s not twist a moment of hope into something it wasn’t.”
Firefighters are working tirelessly to contain the fire amid challenges from strong winds and low humidity.
