President Joseph R. Biden shades his eyes to survey the the crowd during the 140th commencement exercises for the United States Coast Guard Academy Wednesday, May 19, 2021 in New London, Conn. (Sarah Gordon/The Day via AP)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 10:00 AM PT – Thursday, May 20, 2021
Joe Biden tried to get a few laughs during his first commencement address by quoting a Chinese communist leader. He’s now facing criticism for citing words by Mao Zedong in a speech before a class of Coast Guard cadets.
The Democrat’s remarks came Wednesday at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s graduation ceremony in New London, Connecticut. He made the following statement while citing the founding father of the People’s Republic of China:
“There’s a saying, used in a different context, a Chinese saying that says, ‘women hold up half the world.’ It’s an absolute stupid position not to make sure they represent at least half of what we do.”
Biden used this quote from Chairman Mao to emphasize the importance of appointing women to commanding positions in the military for the sake of so-called social justice. Mao is known for being responsible for the deaths of an estimated 80 million people during the so-called Cultural Revolution in 1960s China.
When the cadets didn’t respond, Biden tried to poke fun at their lack of enthusiasm.
President Biden, in his commencement speech to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, called the class of graduating cadets “dull” for not laughing at his poorly delivered joke about the Navy. pic.twitter.com/O3i6dX03LF
— The College Fix (@CollegeFix) May 20, 2021
Biden previously quoted Mao Zedong on his campaign trail last year when he led a fundraiser event with Iran-tied Democrat operative Valerie Jarret.
