A video featuring President Joe Biden discussing the future of trucking jobs from a 2019 interview with the Des Moines Register has recently gained attention online, resulting in criticism from social media users.
In the video, Biden remarks, “Guess what? Every trucker out there with an eighth-grade education or high school education knows that they are likely not to have a job in the next three, four, five years.”
This brief 10-second segment, shared on TikTok by a user critical of the president, received over 5.8 million views within a single day, though it lacks some essential context.
What context is missing?
During the full-length interview with the Des Moines Register editorial board, which lasted over an hour, Biden addressed various topics including healthcare, nation unity, and the economy. His remark about trucking jobs came after he recounted an encounter with an old friend whose son is a truck driver.
Biden noted that he felt truckers were not given the respect they deserve before expressing his concern regarding the declining number of trucking jobs and emphasized the need for retraining to transition into new roles. He stated, “There are a lot of jobs out there. But you’re gonna have to go back and be retrained.”
He highlighted the demand for workers skilled in building photovoltaic machinery, which includes solar panels, to illustrate the types of available jobs that require training.
Actions taken by Biden for truckers
In 2021, the Biden-Harris administration introduced a “Trucking Action Plan” aimed at supporting truckers across the nation. This initiative included the establishment of FASTPORT, a federally funded apprenticeship program designed to collaborate with trucking companies in creating Registered Apprenticeship programs. Additionally, the Driving Good Jobs Initiative was launched to facilitate engagement with drivers and unions.
Despite these initiatives, criticism of Biden continues online. One commenter remarked, “You just lost my vote, Mr. President!” in response to the original video of Biden’s 2019 interview. Another popular comment stated that this segment would be suitable for advertising at truck stops, given that the U.S. has approximately 3.5 million truck drivers.
Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, as @rachelbarber_
