At the prompting of Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Biden mentions the name of Laken Riley.

March 08, 2024

At the prompting of Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Biden mentions the name of Laken Riley.

In an unexpected move, President Joe Biden mentioned the name "Laken Riley" as demanded by Republicans but faced criticism for mispronouncing it. The tragic death of Riley, a nursing student from Georgia, has become a focal point for Republicans, symbolizing their concerns about the Biden administration's handling of the U.S-Mexico border amid a surge in immigration. An undocumented immigrant from Venezuela has been arrested and charged with Riley's murder.

Even before Biden's State of the Union address, border security was expected to be a contentious topic. Upon entering the House chamber, Biden was confronted by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a staunch Republican, wearing a red Trump MAGA hat and a T-shirt with the message "Say her name" – a phrase echoing activism after the deaths of George Floyd and others at the hands of the police.

During the speech, as Biden addressed border security and called for bipartisan legislation, Greene interjected, demanding, "Say her name!" Biden complied, holding up a button with "Laken Riley" written on it. However, he mispronounced her first name, leading to instant criticism and correction from GOP critics.

Despite the mispronunciation, Biden briefly acknowledged Riley's death and drew a connection to his own family's tragedies, including the loss of his first wife and young daughter in 1972 and the death of his son Beau from brain cancer in 2015.

Following the mention of Laken Riley's name, President Biden pressed Congress to collaborate on a compromise for border security, emphasizing the urgency with a call to action: "Get this bill done!" In an unexpected move, he extended an olive branch to former President Trump, urging him to refrain from opposing any border deal and highlighting the potential for joint efforts, stating, "We can do it together."

As the presidential election looms, Republicans are employing various tactics, including the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, to criticize Biden's handling of the border. In the hours leading up to Biden's State of the Union address, the House passed the "Laken Riley Act," which mandates the Department of Homeland Security to detain unauthorized migrants accused of theft.

The arrest of Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan man facing charges of murder and assault, has intensified the scrutiny of Biden's immigration policies. Despite entering the U.S. illegally, Ibarra was allowed to stay pending his immigration case. Former President Trump seized on Riley's tragic death to condemn Biden's border management, emphasizing the President's alleged reluctance to mention her name.

During the speech, Biden employed language reminiscent of Trump's, referring to Ibarra as an "illegal." This choice of words drew criticism from some Democrats, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who expressed disappointment, stating that she wished Biden hadn't used the term. However, Rep. Nancy Pelosi downplayed the language choice, saying, "Now he should have said 'undocumented,' but it's not a big thing."

Earlier in the day, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene distributed buttons with the phrase "Say her name." While Biden acknowledged those present in the gallery, notably, Laken Riley's parents were absent. Rep. Mike Collins explained that he had extended an invitation to Riley's parents for the State of the Union address, but they had chosen to stay home as they mourned their daughter's tragic loss.

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At the prompting of Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Biden mentions the name of Laken Riley.

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