On Tuesday, Joe Biden encountered technical difficulties during a speech at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., as his teleprompter malfunctioned just 10 minutes into his address.
The speech, which focused on his administration’s economic record, required the president to rely on paper notes to continue.
“One of the things that’s going on here — they just turned off my … I lost electricity here, anyway,” Biden remarked as he adjusted to the unexpected issue.
Biden's teleprompter goes out and he immediately malfunctions: "I lost the electricity here" pic.twitter.com/aMoo10nWPZ
— Jake Schneider (@jacobkschneider) December 10, 2024
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The president’s speech came amid questions about the progress of key initiatives under his $1.2 trillion infrastructure law, including efforts to expand high-speed internet to underserved rural areas.
Despite significant funding, many Americans promised access to broadband remain without service.
Biden addressed the state of the economy during his more than 30-minute speech, describing it as “fairly strong” while acknowledging ongoing challenges.
“Most economists agree the new administration is going to inherit a fairly strong economy, at least at the moment,” he said, referring to the anticipated transfer of power following the 2024 election.
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“An economy going through fundamental transformation. It’s laid out a stronger foundation and a sustainable, broad-based, highly productive growth.”
He expressed hope that the next administration would build on these achievements, emphasizing that economic progress benefits all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.
“It is my profound hope that the new administration will preserve and build on this progress, like most great economic developments, this one is neither red nor blue, and America’s progress is everyone’s progress,” Biden said.
The president also acknowledged the economic hardships many Americans face, including high prices for housing and groceries.
“Of course, this economic growth is not without pain,” he said. “The entire world faced a spike in inflation due to disruptions from the pandemic and Putin’s war in Ukraine.”
Biden highlighted his administration’s $65 billion investment in broadband expansion under the bipartisan infrastructure law, comparing its importance to the introduction of electricity during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency.
“They’re as consequential to farmers as electricity was during the administration of [former President Franklin D.] Roosevelt. I’m serious,” Biden said.
The largest funding allocation, $42.5 billion, was designated for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.
However, progress has been slow.
Critics, including FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, have pointed out that no individuals have been connected to the internet under the program.
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“There hasn’t been a single shovel’s worth of dirt that has even been turned towards connecting people,” Carr told the Washington Times, noting that full implementation may not be achieved until 2030.
Alan Davidson, who leads the BEAD program, attributed the delays to planning and preparation, stating that construction is expected to begin in 2025 or 2026.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has called for the program’s funding to be reconsidered, citing inefficiency.
“Three years later, just 17 EV stations are completed and not a single person—not one—has been connected to the internet yet. It’s time to pull the plug,” Ernst wrote in a letter to Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, co-chairs of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Biden’s speech was met with demonstrations outside the Brookings Institution, where anti-Israel protestors gathered to voice opposition to his administration’s policies.
Some held banners reading “Stop Arming Israel,” while others chanted slogans like “Genocide Joe” and waved Palestinian flags.
The president concluded his address with a call for global leadership, stating, “If we 're not leading the world, who does?”
Biden is randomly screaming again: "I'm not being wise guy!" pic.twitter.com/bvzjgsSP6m
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 10, 2024
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God, I hope that after January 20 we will NEVER have to see see or HEAR that atrocity who considers himself the president of what at USED TO BE the GREATEST FREE country in the world.
“The size of the tip of my little finger…”.
He was describing the size of his brain!
He wasn’t up to it so had to steal it.