On July 1, 2024, numerous online users criticized U.S. President Joe Biden for reading aloud the words "end of quote" from a teleprompter during a White House speech he delivered the same day. Some other users' posts only vaguely implied Biden made the purported mistake.
For example, the X account for TheLeadingReport.com (@LeadingReport) posted (archived), "BREAKING: Joe Biden reads 'end of quote' during his speech."
Outkick.com founder Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) claimed (archived) on X, "After four days of debate criticism, Joe Biden Ron Burgundy'd it and reads 'end of quote' from the teleprompter during a four minute speech after which he took no questions."
A user named @DonaldTNews also posted (archived), "BREAKING: King Biden just read 'end of quote' on the teleprompter once again. What's your reaction?"
The truth was Biden did not "Ron Burgundy" his remarks (a reference to scenes from the 2004 film "Anchorman"), as the X post claimed.
Biden correctly read the words "end of quote," notifying viewers and listeners he had finished reading an excerpt from a dissenting opinion written by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The remark occurred during Biden's July 1 speech addressing the court's ruling earlier that day that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution.
We contacted the White House by email to ask whether they had a statement to share regarding this misinformation promoted about the president. We will update this story if we receive a response.
Here's What Biden Said Prior to 'End of Quote'
A video of Biden's speech revealed the truth of the matter. Here's what he said:
I know I will respect the limits of the presidential power, as I have for three and a half years. But any president, including Donald Trump, will now be free to ignore the law.
I concur with Justice Sotomayor's dissent today. She… here's what she said. She said, "In every use of official power, the president is now a king above the law. With fear for our democracy, I dissent." End of quote.
So should the American people dissent. I dissent. May God bless you all. And may God help preserve our democracy. Thank you. And may God protect our troops.
Misinformers Repeatedly Seize on Biden's Public Appearances
Throughout Biden's presidency, online users promoted misinformation regarding his public appearances, no matter the function's seriousness, theme or list of attendees.
For example, during Biden's first year in office, users shared an altered picture claiming Biden's teleprompter displayed the words "leave now" to help alert him when he should exit the room.
In 2022, users falsely claimed Biden read "end of quote" aloud during a speech when he wasn't supposed to. The following year, users shared a misleading video featuring altered audio from an event at which he simply attempted to share an early Thanksgiving meal with U.S. soldiers and their families. Users also posted false information and at least one fake video regarding his visit to the site of the 2023 Maui wildfires.
In the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election, users claimed, without evidence, that videos of Biden purportedly "freezing" and "malfunctioning" at public events indicated some undisclosed medical issue. In another widely shared false rumor, users claimed Biden attempted to sit in an "invisible chair" while honoring past military members in Normandy, France, during a ceremony on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.