Embattled president Joe Biden has had a rough life, much like Jesus Christ, according to a House Democratic ally of the president.
Rep. Don Beyer (D., Va.) invoked the crucifixion of Jesus during introductory remarks at a McLean, Va., fundraiser, one of the president’s first appearances since a disastrous debate performance last week. "He died to demonstrate the universality of human suffering—that suffering was not the end," Beyer said of Jesus. "We each endure tragedies in our lives and hardships and suffering."
"But few had to endure more than this man," Beyer said of Biden, according to a White House press pool recording of the event. "Losing his wife, losing his daughter, and losing his son. The vicissitudes of American politics."
"But all through he has been a good, good man. He's resilient, optimistic, indefatigable, and above all courageous," Beyer continued.
Beyer offered the bold comparison as Biden faces growing concern within Democratic party ranks over his mental acuity. Biden appeared confused throughout his debate against Republican Donald Trump last week, prompting White House officials and some Democratic leaders to acknowledge Biden often appears addled and forgetful in private meetings. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D., Texas) on Wednesday urged Biden to drop out of the race, the first national Democrat to do so.
Beyer made other lofty claims about Biden at the fundraiser, though none as dramatic as the comparison to Jesus.
"The presidential historians are already considering these first 41 months of his term the most productive and successful in our nation’s history," said Beyer, adding later that, "Joe Biden has transformed our economy."
Speaking briefly after Beyer, Biden blamed jet lag for his poor debate performance. "I decided to travel around the world a couple of times," said Biden, who returned from a trip to Europe more than 10 days before his debate with Trump.
"I didn't listen to my staff," he said, adding he "nearly fell asleep on stage" at the debate.
A spokesman for Beyer said the idea he was comparing Biden to Jesus is "preposterous."
"[Beyer] was clearly musing on the centrality of suffering to the human experience, as a basic matter of language and reading comprehension at no point in this quotation did he compare the President to Jesus Christ," said Beyer spokesman Aaron Fritschner.