When President Joe Biden delivered a prime-time address in Philadelphia on Thursday, the dark red setting generated a great deal of buzz.
Biden’s speech, in which he sought to frame November’s midterm elections as a continuation of his 2020 cycle’s “battle for the soul of the nation” and portrayed MAGA forces, led by former President Donald Trump and his allies, as being determined to take the country backward, was delivered outside Independence Hall. Biden, who walked in with first lady Jill Biden, was framed on either side by a standing Marine and red lights cast upon a brick wall and American flags.
TRUMP MUSES OF PARDONING JAN. 6 RIOTERS AND GOVERNMENT APOLOGY
“Dramatic setup here, with red and blue spotlights coloring Independence Hall and a uniformed member of the military standing on each side of the main door. Several American flags and a long red carpet were behind POTUS as he spoke,” a press pool report said. However, the tight shot of Biden seen on camera only appeared to show the red, giving the event a hellish flair.
“White House advance team not being subtle with the background here: The lit up American flag hanging right behind Biden as encroaching red brick walls surround it,” tweeted Politico’s Sam Stein.
White House advance team not being subtle with the background here: The lit up American flag hanging right behind Biden as encroaching red brick walls surround it.
— Sam Stein (@samstein) September 2, 2022
“This blood red setting and negative complaining about political opponents means one thing — Joe Biden is really nervous that Donald Trump is going to run again,” said Richard Grenell, an ambassador and acting director of national intelligence in the Trump administration.
This blood red setting and negative complaining about political opponents means one thing – Joe Biden is really nervous that Donald Trump is going to run again.
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) September 2, 2022
There were plenty of other comments in the same vein, with some taking issue with the placement of the Marines.
The backdrop of Biden’s national unity speech pic.twitter.com/qryO2Th9zI
— Eddie Scarry (@eScarry) September 2, 2022
The President says, red-lit from behind, flanked by Marines. https://t.co/1nnAv5Ienk
— Tim Carney (@TPCarney) September 2, 2022
Oh my… Joe Biden speaks with the military in the background and red lighting.
So far he hasn’t mentioned 40-yr-high inflation — the top midterm issue for voters. pic.twitter.com/rp1NIrnDWc
— Wendell Husebø (@WendellHusebo) September 2, 2022
God I know of all the cliches, but CNN would be cleaning graphite off the roof if Trump appeared with these optics. https://t.co/bu5qGXuVg3
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) September 2, 2022
CNN’s Jeff Zeleny said, “There’s nothing unusual or wrong with a President delivering a political speech — it’s inherent in the job description — but doing it against a backdrop of two Marines standing at attention and the Marine Band is a break with White House traditions.”
There’s nothing unusual or wrong with a President delivering a political speech — it’s inherent in the job description — but doing it against a backdrop of two Marines standing at attention and the Marine Band is a break with White House traditions. pic.twitter.com/s3TSYHtkcA
— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) September 2, 2022
“Standing in front of a hellish red background Biden called half the country, the MAGA Republicans ‘threats’ & ‘clear and present dangers,'” said former Trump White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. “Then he says, ’empathy is the fuel of democracy-the willingness to see each other not as enemies but as fellow Americans…’!!!”
Standing in front of a hellish red background Biden called half the country, the MAGA Republicans “threats” & “clear and present dangers”
Then he says, “empathy is the fuel of democracy-the willingness to see each other not as enemies but as fellow Americans…”!!!
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) September 2, 2022
CNN’s Brianna Keilar tweeted, “Whatever you think of this speech the military is supposed to be apolitical. Positioning Marines in uniform behind President Biden for a political speech flies in the face of that. It’s wrong when Democrats do it. It’s wrong when Republicans do it.”
When President Biden’s speech started you could only hear his voice echoing off the bricks and crickets…now you can hear sirens and hecklers yelling “F— Joe Biden”
Biden addressed the protesters saying they have every “right to be outraged, this is a democracy!”
— Meridith McGraw (@meridithmcgraw) September 2, 2022
Basically a smear of 70 million people— in front of the flag and military on primetime tv.
— David Harsanyi (@davidharsanyi) September 2, 2022
BIDEN SEEKS DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN TRUMP SPEECH ON DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS
Some Twitter users noted the imagery was a good match for Biden’s “Dark Brandon” meme.
Dark Brandon backdrop https://t.co/3jzIVORyE5
— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) September 2, 2022
At one point during the speech, hecklers could be heard chanting, “Let’s go Brandon!”
Hecklers chant “Let’s Go Brandon” during Biden’s Soul of the Nation speech.
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) September 2, 2022
Independence Hall holds immense significance in U.S. history. It is where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were both signed.
The White House stressed that Biden’s address Thursday would be optimistic and not political, but during his remarks, the president called on voters to unite against “Make America Great Again” Republicans regardless of their own ideology and urged the public to protect democracy by casting their ballots for Democrats in the November midterm elections.
“Not every Republican embraces extreme ideology,” he said. “But there’s no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans.”
“MAGA Republicans do not respect the Constitution,” he added. “They do not believe in the rule of law. They do not recognize the will of the people. They refuse to accept the results of a free election.”
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel assailed Biden after the speech.
“Joe Biden’s wretched attacks on millions of Americans have fueled attacks on pregnancy centers, Republican offices, and an assassination attempt on a Supreme Court Justice,” she said in a statement obtained by the Washington Examiner. “His agenda has pitted neighbors against each other, rewarded the wealthy while punishing working families, and trampled on the rights and freedoms of Americans. Joe Biden is the divider-in-chief and epitomizes the current state of the Democrat Party: one of divisiveness, disgust, and hostility towards half the country.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Trump responded on his social media platform Truth Social, first sharing side-by-side images of Biden delivering his speech and Trump embracing and kissing an American flag and then posting a statement on the address.
“Someone should explain to Joe Biden, slowly but passionately, that MAGA means, as powerfully as mere words can get, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! If he doesn’t want to Make America Great Again, which through words, action, and thought, he doesn’t, then he certainly should not be representing the United States of America!” he said. “If you look at the words and meaning of the awkward and angry Biden speech tonight, he threatened America, including with the possible use of military force. He must be insane, or suffering from late stage dementia!”
