Claim:
In a 2019 interview, U.S. President Joe Biden asserted, “Every trucker out there with an eighth grade education or a high school education knows they’re likely not to have a job in the next three, four, five years.”
Rating:
Rating: Correct Attribution
Context:
Biden was discussing the employment issues faced by independent truck drivers and potential solutions to these challenges.
In late May 2024, a video of President Joe Biden made headlines when he stated, “Every trucker out there with an eighth grade education or a high school education knows they’re likely not to have a job in the next three, four, five years.” The footage circulated widely on various social media platforms, including TikTok and Instagram.
Several users on X expressed doubt about the video’s authenticity, with comments like “It’s fake, but you knew that,” and “If you can’t verify, what are you sharing?” However, the video is genuine and was pulled from a live-streamed interview conducted on December 27, 2019, by the Des Moines Register editorial board, with the quote appearing at timestamp 18:52.
Biden’s remarks were in response to a query about connecting with voters who might have previously supported Republicans or Trump. He discussed job losses across various sectors, mentioning a conversation with an independent trucker who expressed concern about job security, stating that truckers are aware of their uncertain future.
Although some interpreted Biden’s statement as dismissive toward truck drivers, the larger context of his comments reflects concerns over job loss and the need for greater respect for truckers. Multiple news outlets, including USA Today, have reported on this quote and Biden’s initiatives for truckers during his presidency.
Given that the quote is clearly authentic, we consider this claim to have “Correct Attribution.”
Sources:
Barber, Rachel. ‘Resurfaced Clip of Biden Talking about Trucking Jobs in 2019 Sparks Backlash’. USA TODAY, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/05/21/joe-biden-truck-drivers-trucking-jobs-video-resurfaced/73786121007/. Accessed 21 May 2024.
Full Interview: Joe Biden Meets with the Register’s Editorial Board (12.27.19). www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruTtVyO7DSU. Accessed 21 May 2024.
Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/tae_love_harris/reel/C7Nx4XJuTLR/. Accessed 21 May 2024.
TikTok – Make Your Day. https://www.tiktok.com/@bidendumbquotes/video/7371091688653163818. Accessed 21 May 2024.
