President Joe Biden made a controversial statement on Monday while responding to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s criticism of his proposed reforms to the U.S. Supreme Court. The exchange took place as Biden landed in Austin, Texas, ahead of his remarks at the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the LBJ Presidential Library.
President Biden’s proposal to radically overhaul the U.S. Supreme Court would tilt the balance of power and erode not only the rule of law, but the American people’s faith in our system of justice.
This proposal is the logical conclusion to the Biden-Harris Administration and…
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) July 29, 2024
As Biden stood on the tarmac, reporters bombarded him with questions. One reporter specifically asked about Speaker Johnson’s remark that Biden’s push to reform the Supreme Court was “dead on arrival” in the House. Biden’s response was a thinly veiled threat that has since drawn significant attention.
“Speaker Johnson said it’s dead on arrival,” the reporter stated.
Biden replied, “That’s what he is.”
The reporter, seeking clarification, asked, “That he is?”
Biden reiterated, “He is. Dead on arrival.”
WATCH:
President Biden was just asked on the tarmac about Speaker Johnson calling his Supreme Court reform “dead on arrival.” “That’s what he is,” Biden said. Asked for clarification, a reporter shouted, “That he is?” Biden responded: “He is. Dead on arrival.” pic.twitter.com/kEOV2y21Yi
— Matt Viser (@mviser) July 29, 2024
The context of the question was Johnson’s fierce opposition to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s proposal to expand and pack the Supreme Court with additional justices, a move critics argue would undermine the court’s independence and tilt its ideological balance. Johnson had previously blasted the proposal, calling it a “dangerous gambit” by the Biden-Harris administration.
In his criticism, Johnson stated, “This dangerous gambit of the Biden-Harris Administration is dead on arrival in the House.” Biden’s retort, suggesting that Johnson himself is “dead on arrival,” has raised eyebrows and concerns about the escalation of political rhetoric, especially in the wake of recent violence against political figures.
Biden’s comments come just weeks after an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, adding to the tension surrounding the use of inflammatory language by public officials. The incident underscores the need for measured discourse, particularly given the volatile political climate.
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