Biden makes bizarre swipe at crowd during tribute at Jesse Jackson’s funeral
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: Earl Gibson III/Deadline via Getty Images
Joe Biden's speech during Jesse Jackson's funeral took a bit of a surprising turn after the former president told mourners he's 'a hell of a lot smarter than most of you'.
The likes of the Barack Obama, Hillary and Bill Clinton, as well as Kamala Harris gathered at a memorial service on Friday (March 6) to pay their respects after Jackson died last month aged 84.
The activist, who ran for president on two separate occasions, led the civil rights movement after Martin Luther King Jr's assassination in 1968.
Jackson has no doubt left a huge legacy, with Biden paying tribute to the activist on Friday. However, his speech did take a bit of an unexpected turn after the 46th POTUS touched on his 'stutter'.
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"When I was a kid, I was a relatively good athlete, and a pretty good student, but I stuttered," Biden said.
"Now, if I told you all earlier, when I was a kid, I had a cleft palate or club foot, none of you would have laughed, but it's okay to laugh at stuttering. I'm not being critical of you, but think about it. It's the one place where people think you're stupid. Oh, really?"
The former president continued: "I'm hell of lot smarter than most of you. Well, all kidding aside, it makes you feel really small, makes you feel really small."
Biden went on to pay tribute to Jackson, describing him as a 'determined and tenacious' individual.
He continued: "I know him as underrated, undeterred and unafraid, not a joke.
"And more than most, Jesse was dedicated with every fiber in his being, to redeeming the soul of America. The soul of America.
"Sometimes we went toe to toe. We disagreed on some issues, but that's what I actually admired most about Jesse, his passion. He was passionate. His passion, the courage of his convictions."
Continuing his remarks while also discussing the Trump administration, Biden added: "I don't think things would have been the same had Jesse not been around, because Jesse decided that his life was ensuring that we never fully walk away from it either.
"Because there's bad times like now. We're in a tough spot, folks, we've got an administration that doesn't share any of the values that we have. I don't think I'm exaggerating a little bit."
Obama, who also delivered an eulogy at Jackson's funeral, was critical of the current administration during his speech.