Biden Didn’t “Botch” Pledge of Allegiance
The Claim
U.S. Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden “completely botches” the Pledge of Allegiance in the clip below.
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Emerging story
On September 21, 2020, Steve Guest tweeted that Biden “completely botches the Pledge of Allegiance.” The claim soon went viral on social media.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s investigation found that the clip was taken out of context. Biden was not reciting the pledge in the video. The original video was taken when Biden gave a speech in Manitowoc, Wisconsin on September 21, 2020. In the speech, Biden discusses what he sees as Trump’s divisive treatment of U.S. citizens.
He says: “[Trump’s] saying, if you live in a state like Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, states with Democratic governors, you’re not his problem. He has no obligation to you. He’s not responsible for you as president, your family or your wellbeing. I don’t see the presidency that way. I don’t pledge allegiance to red states of America or blue states of America, I pledge allegiance to the United States of America. One nation, indivisible, under God. For real. I’m running as a proud Democrat, but I’m not going to govern as a Democratic president. I’m going to govern as president."
The full video is below.
Since Biden was not actually reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in the clip, the claim that he botched it is false.
