President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden’s participation in the 2023 National Education Association Annual Meeting on the 4th of July drew criticism for their remarks. While the first lady’s claim that Biden is the “education president” was refuted, the president himself made problematic comments, reiterating the notion that “they’re not somebody else’s children” and “they’re all our children.”
Biden’s statement that children “are the kite strings” lifting our national ambitions and that they are all our children sparked outrage on Twitter. Some users drew parallels between Biden’s claim and the communist idea that children belong to the state, reminiscent of the Soviet Union.
The irony was not lost on observers, as the president and first lady have denied their seventh grandchild, Hunter Biden’s 4-year-old daughter. The recent resolution of the legal battle between Hunter and the child’s mother resulted in lower child support payments, the child not being able to take Hunter’s last name, and receiving his paintings instead.
Biden has made similar remarks in the past, quoting a teacher at the National and State Teacher of the Year Celebration, emphasizing that “there is no such thing as someone else’s child.” Vice President Kamala Harris and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre have also echoed this sentiment, using children to push political agendas, such as prioritizing the climate crisis or advocating for irreversible procedures for children with gender dysphoria.
Critics pointed out the problematic nature of the Pride celebration at the White House, where the progressive Pride flag was displayed alongside the American flag, violating flag code. The event featured transgender influencers engaging in explicit behavior and a focus on children and families.
The president’s claim that “these are our kids” in a video celebrating Pride further emphasized the belief that children belong to the collective rather than individual families. This is not the first time Biden has made such a chilling claim, and it is concerning to see this rhetoric being repeated.
Conservatives are troubled by the idea that the state should have ultimate authority over children, infringing upon the rights and responsibilities of parents. The comments made by Biden and other members of his administration raise concerns about the government’s role in shaping and influencing children’s lives, potentially at the expense of parental rights and individual freedom.