Deceptive RNC edit takes Biden’s words on taking Supreme Court questions out of context

The Republican National Committee posted a selectively edited video of President Joe Biden to give the misleading impression that Biden said taking questions from reporters is inappropriate.

"BIDEN: 'I'm not gonna take any questions because I think it's inappropriate,'" said the Jan. 27 tweet from the RNC Research account, which received a few hundred retweets and likes. 

The tweet showed a 3-second clip from Biden’s event honoring the retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, a Clinton administration appointee who spent 28 years on the bench. 

But the video and tweet took Biden’s comments out of context and cut him off mid-sentence. What’s left is an abbreviated, misleading quote that doesn’t accurately capture what Biden said.

The president’s full remarks, as seen on video and in the White House’s official transcript, show that he was not speaking about taking questions in absolute terms. 

Biden reiterated his commitment to nominate a Black woman as Breyer’s replacement during his speech. Then, after Breyer spoke, Biden wrapped up the event and said that it would be inappropriate to take questions in front of Breyer, since the justice is "still sitting on the bench." Biden went on to say that there would soon be other opportunities for reporters to ask him questions. 

Here’s what Biden said to close the Jan. 27 event, with the comment the RNC plucked out in its deceptive tweet highlighted in bold for emphasis:

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Barack Obama

stated on May 26, 2009 in a speech at the White House.

"Walking in the door (Sonia Sotomayor) would bring more experience on the bench, and more varied experience on the bench, than anyone currently serving on the United States Supreme Court had when they were appointed."

"That you all so very, very much for being here. And I’m not going to take any questions because I think it’s inappropriate to take questions with the justice here. He’s still sitting on the bench and — I’ll give you your mask back — and, but you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get me later today and for the rest of the week, and next week too. So thank you very much. Thank you."

The Associated Press reported on Jan. 9 that Biden held fewer news conferences and participated in fewer media interviews during his first year in office than his recent predecessors had — although the outlet also reported that Biden more frequently fielded questions during his public appearances than those same predecessors, citing research from a Towson University professor.

But Biden did not say Jan. 27 that he thinks taking questions in general is inappropriate. The RNC tweet abbreviated Biden’s remarks to leave that misleading impression.

The tweet contained an element of truth — the words it highlighted did indeed come out of Biden’s mouth — but its editing and presentation omitted what Biden said next, critical information that would give a different impression. 

We rate the tweet Mostly False.