While speaking in Albuquerque, New Mexico, about his administration’s plans to tackle student debt relief, Biden looked toward New Mexico Democratic Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez and asked if they were currently in her district. Fernandez, who represents New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District, said “no” in response.
Following her response, Biden laughed and continued to speak, saying that “the district we are in is pretty good too.” The president then looked toward Fernandez again and said, “I can tell you lack enthusiasm, congresswoman, and it’s contagious.” Biden’s speech took place in Albuquerque, and a majority of the city is in New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District, which is represented by Democratic Representative Melanie Stansbury.
Biden’s remarks come just ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, where Democrats could potentially lose control of the U.S. House and Senate.
The president appeared in New Mexico to discuss student debt relief, as his administration previously announced a plan to cancel up to $10,000 worth of debt for some eligible borrowers and up to $20,000 for federal Pell Grant recipients. However, six Republican states (South Carolina, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas and Missouri) filed a lawsuit attempting to block Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan. A federal appeals court issued a temporary block on Biden’s plan last month following the lawsuit.
Prior to his remark about enthusiasm, Biden praised Fernandez, saying that she’s “really good.”
Biden also spoke about his student debt forgiveness plan and said, “Over 200,000 people in New Mexico have student loans, and the average borrower in New Mexico owes just over $34,000 and my plan is gonna make a real difference in lowering the cost for families as well.”
“In total, more than 40 million Americans stand to benefit from this relief and not a dime of it will go to the top 5 percent incomes,” Biden said.
A day earlier, Biden delivered a speech in Florida, where he made several gaffes, prompting some criticism.
While speaking about inflation across the U.S., Biden mentioned the “war in Iraq” but later corrected himself to say that it was due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Additionally, last week, Biden campaigned in Pennsylvania and mistakenly said that there are 54 states in the U.S. rather than 50.
“Joe Biden now says there are 54 states,” Republican Representative Lauren Boebert said in a tweet following Biden’s remark. “I guess if you count the states of denial, confusion, delusion and disaster that his Regime has caused he just might be on to something.”
Newsweek reached out to the White House and Fernandez’s office for comment.
