When Vice President Joe Biden stated on social media that he had been to Ground Zero in New York City the day after the terrorist events on September 11, 2001, he was met with criticism and anger from users of those platforms. On the 22nd anniversary of 9/11, Vice President Biden gave a speech in Alaska, during which he said that he had supposedly visited Ground Zero and characterized the area as appearing “like the gates of hell.”
On the other hand, a number of people who utilize social media have brought up the fact that Biden was not present at Ground Zero on September 12, 2001; rather, he was in Washington, D.C., where he was serving as a senator at the time. Others, including conservative pundits and journalists, have also contested Biden’s allegation. Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik termed it a falsehood, and others have said the same thing.
Critics brought to the fact that on September 12, 2001, the Senate met in Washington, District of Columbia, to pass a resolution condemning the events of September 11th, and that Biden was present at Senate operations in the nation’s capital on that day.
On the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks, Vice President Kamala Harris paid a visit to Ground Zero on behalf of President Joe Biden.
Users of social media platforms and pundits voiced their displeasure with what they saw to be a misleading remark made by the President, which resulted in extensive debates and fact-checking of his assertions throughout the internet.