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Joe Biden, the 46th president of the United States, has been in the national spotlight for over half a century, ever since he won his first election to the United States Senate in 1972. During his long tenure in the Senate, Biden was seen as a figure who had the tendency to commit gaffes.^[1] He has been associated with working-class politics during his career, despite not being a member of the working class. His capacity for empathy has been noted, as has his tendency for exaggeration. A long-standing parody of Biden by The Onion, popular during his time as Barack Obama's vice president, is thought to have contributed positively to his public image. Biden's approval ratings as President have overall been highly polarized, with mixed support from Democrats and almost complete opposition from Republicans.

Reputation

Biden was consistently ranked one of the least wealthy members of the Senate,^[2]^[3]^[4] which he attributed to his having been elected young.^[5] As of November 2009^[update], Biden's net worth was only $27,012.^[6] By November 2020^[update], the Bidens were worth $9 million, largely due to sales of Biden's books and speaking fees after his vice presidency.^[7]^[8]^[9]

The political writer Howard Fineman wrote, "Biden is not an academic, he's not a theoretical thinker, he's a great street pol. He comes from a long line of working people in Scranton—auto salesmen, car dealers, people who know how to make a sale. He has that great Irish gift."^[10] In 2021 The Nation wrote that "Biden's attempt to identify with the working class has always been more aspiration than reality," and "he has long sought to appeal to the white working class, to position himself as part of it, even if this was as much a question of salesmanship and fantasy as anything else",^[11] noting that he was elected to the Senate at an early age after working as a lawyer.^{[failed verification]} Political columnist David S. Broder wrote that Biden has grown over time: "He responds to real people—that's been consistent throughout."^[10] Journalist James Traub has written, "Biden is the kind of fundamentally happy person who can be as generous toward others as he is to himself."^[12]

In recent years, especially after the 2015 death of his elder son Beau, Biden has been discussed for his empathetic nature and ability to communicate about grief.^[13]^[14] CNN wrote in 2020 that his presidential campaign aimed to make him "healer-in-chief", while the New York Times described his extensive history of being called upon to give eulogies.^[15] The Associated Press speculated that Joe Biden's ability to connect with those stricken by grief is partially why he won the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.^[16]

Political gaffes

In 2006, journalist and TV anchor Wolf Blitzer described Biden as loquacious.^[17] According to Ben Smith, writing for Politico in 2008, Biden often deviates from prepared remarks^[18] and according to Jake Tapper in 2007, Biden sometimes "puts his foot in his mouth".^[19]^[20]^[21]^[22] In 2008, Mark Leibovich wrote for The New York Times that Biden's "weak filters make him capable of blurting out pretty much anything".^[20] In 2018, Biden called himself a "gaffe machine".^[23] Some of his gaffes have been characterized as racially insensitive.^[24]^[25]^[26]^[27] For example, in 2006, Biden stated to an Indian-American voter that "In Delaware, the largest growth of population is Indian Americans, moving from India. You cannot go to a 7/11 or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent."^[28] In 2020, he told Charlamagne tha God during an interview that "if you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black."^[29]

In the years during and since his 2020 presidential campaign, conservative news outlets and politicians have questioned Biden's cognitive fitness and raised the possibility that he has dementia. Donald Trump has claimed without evidence that Biden has dementia and has called him "Sleepy Joe" at rallies.^[30] This angle has continued to be popular among right-wing media outlets.^[31]^[32]^[33]

According to The New York Times, Biden often embellishes elements of his life or exaggerates, a trait also noted by The New Yorker in 2014.^[34]^[35] In October 2022, the Washington Post wrote that Biden often stretches the truth in order to connect with the ethnicity or identity of an audience.^[36] For instance, Biden has claimed to have been more active in the civil rights movement than he actually was, and has falsely recalled being an excellent student who earned three college degrees.^[34] The Times wrote, "Mr. Biden's folksiness can veer into folklore, with dates that don't quite add up and details that are exaggerated or wrong, the factual edges shaved off to make them more powerful for audiences."^[35]

The Onion parody of Biden

During Biden's vice-presidency, satirical online newspaper The Onion consistently portrayed Biden as an outrageous character who shared almost nothing with his namesake besides the title of vice president of the United States.^[37]^[38] The character was also known as "Diamond Joe".^[39] The publication portrayed Biden as a blue-collar "average Joe", an affable "goofy uncle", a muscle car driver, an avid fan of 1980s hair metal, a raucous party animal, a shameless womanizer, a recidivist petty criminal, and a drug-dealing outlaw.^[40]^[41] The Biden character became one of The Onion's most popular features during the Obama presidency, garnering critical acclaim and a large readership.^[40]^[42]

Despite the extreme differences between the fictional character and the real politician, The Onion was regarded as having a significant, mostly positive influence on Biden's public image.^[37]^[42] Commentators noted that the character likely reinforced public perceptions of Biden as a political figure with populist working-class appeal and a good-natured, easy-going disposition.^[37]^[38] After briefly reviving the "Diamond Joe" version of Biden in 2019 for its coverage of the Democratic primaries, The Onion retired the character and began to satirize Biden in ways that drew more closely from real-world developments.^[41]

Approval rating

According to FiveThirtyEight, Biden's favorable approval rating remained higher than his disapproval rating until August 30, 2021.^[43] He began his presidency with an approval rating of above 53 percent according to the same source FiveThirtyEight, which takes an average of multiple individual polls. Biden's average disapproval rating peaked at 57 percent by July 2022, Biden, before improving to the 51 to 52 percent mark by October 2022.^[44] Similarly, his approval rating dipped to 38 percent in July 2022, before recovering to the 42 to 43 percent mark by September 2022.^[43] His 2023 approval and disapproval ratings have remained flat on average around these percentage points (42 to 43 percent and 51 to 53 percent respectively), which is comparable to former President Donald Trump at a similar stage in his presidency.^[43]

According to Gallup, Biden's disapproval rating reached a high of 59 percent in July 2022 and again in April 2023, while his approval rating saw an all-time low of 37 percent in April 2023.^[45] In February 2021, Gallup reported that 98 percent of Democrats approved of Biden;^[45]^[46] however, as of July 2023 that number had declined to 82 percent.^[45] Biden's approval rating among Republicans was 12 percent in February 2021, but ever since August 2021 that number has remained below 10 percent.^[45]

References

^ "55 Things You Need to Know About Joe Biden". Politico. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ Wallsten, Peter (August 24, 2008). "Demographics Part of Calculation: Biden Adds Experience, Yes, but He Could Also Help with Catholics, Blue-collar Whites and Women". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 15, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
^ "A Look at Biden's Net Worth". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. August 24, 2008. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
^ Broder, John M. (September 13, 2008). "Biden Releases Tax Returns, in Part to Pressure Rivals". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
^ Mooney, Alexander (September 12, 2008). "Biden Tax Returns Revealed". CNN. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
^ "237 Millionaires in Congress". www.cbsnews.com.
^ "How Much Is President Joe Biden Worth?". finance.yahoo.com.
^ Borden, Taylor. "President-elect Joe Biden Just Turned 78. Here's How He Went from 'Middle-Class Joe' to Millionaire". Business Insider.
^ Tindera, Michela. "Here's How Much 2020 Presidential Candidate Joe Biden Is Worth". Forbes.
^ ^a ^b Palmer, Nancy Doyle (February 1, 2009). "Joe Biden: 'Everyone Calls Me Joe'". Washingtonian. Archived from the original on July 31, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
^ "Joe From Scranton". The Nation. April 20, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
^ Traub, James (November 24, 2009). "After Cheney". The New York Times Magazine. p. MM34. Archived from the original on January 3, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
^ Baldoni, John. "How Empathy Defines Joe Biden". Forbes. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
^ Nagle, Molly (December 19, 2020). "Nearly 50 Years After Death of Wife and Daughter, Empathy Remains at Joe Biden's Core". ABC News. Retrieved March 17, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ Glueck, Katie; Flegenheimer, Matt (June 11, 2020). "Joe Biden, Emissary of Grief". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
^ Boak, Josh (June 6, 2020). "Anatomy of a political comeback: How Biden earned nomination". Associated Press. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
^ "Transcripts". The Situation Room. CNN. January 12, 2006. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
^ Smith, Ben (December 2, 2008). "Biden, Enemy of the Prepared Remarks". Politico. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
^ Tapper, Jake (January 31, 2007). "A Biden Problem: Foot in Mouth". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 27, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
^ ^a ^b Leibovich, Mark (September 19, 2008). "Meanwhile, the Other No. 2 Keeps on Punching". The New York Times. Retrieved September 20, 2008.
^ Seelye, Katharine Q. (March 19, 1998). "Senate Struggles to Pay Attention to the Remapping of NATO". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
^ Halperin, Mark (August 23, 2008). "Halperin on Biden: Pros and Cons". Time. Archived from the original on July 22, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
^ "'I Am a Gaffe Machine': A History of Joe Biden's Biggest Blunders". The Guardian. April 25, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
^ Allen, Jonathan (August 9, 2019). "Whether Biden's gaffe is an old problem or a new one, he needs a fix". NBC News. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
^ Durkee, Alison (August 9, 2019). ""Gaffe Machine" Biden Comes Under Fire For "White Kids" Remark". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
^ Jaffe, Alexandra (August 8, 2020). "Biden risks alienating young Black voters after race remarks". Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
^ Stevens, Matt (August 9, 2019). "Joe Biden Says 'Poor Kids' Are Just as Bright as 'White Kids'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
^ "Revolution Is in The Air". ABC News. February 22, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
^ Bradner, Eric; Mucha, Sarah; Saenz, Arlette (May 22, 2020). "Biden: 'If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black'". CNN. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
^ Chait, Jonathan (October 23, 2020). "Trump's Plan to Make Biden Look Senile Disappeared Without a Trace". Intelligencer. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
^ Stuart, Arlette Saenz,Elizabeth (March 5, 2023). "Jill Biden says the idea of a competency test for elderly politicians is 'ridiculous' | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved June 24, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Klawans, Justin (November 19, 2021). "Joe Biden Didn't Take Cognitive Test in Annual Exam, Sanjay Gupta Says". Newsweek. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
^ Keene, Houston (May 12, 2023). "Dozens of House Republicans demand Biden take cognitive test or drop out of 2024 race". Fox News. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Osnos, Evan (July 20, 2014). "The Evolution of Joe Biden". The New Yorker. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Shear, Michael D.; Qiu, Linda (October 10, 2022). "Biden, Storyteller in Chief, Spins Yarns That Often Unravel". The New York Times. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
^ Viser, Matt (October 5, 2022). "Biden is actually Greek. And Jewish. And raised by Puerto Ricans". Washington Post. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Cavna, Michael (January 19, 2017). "As Joe Biden exits, comedy bids farewell to a one-man gold mine". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019 – via WashingtonPost.com (subscription required).
^ ^a ^b Farzan, Antonia Noori (May 17, 2019). "The Onion turned Joe Biden into a lovable meme. Now one writer is apologizing". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 18, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2019 – via WashingtonPost.com (subscription required).
^ Roose, Kevin (April 16, 2020). "Biden Is Losing the Internet. Does That Matter?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020.
^ ^a ^b Gavin, Patrick (October 15, 2012). "The Onion's Biden craze". Politico. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
^ ^a ^b Izadi, Elahe (March 9, 2020). "The Onion created lovable 'Diamond Joe' Biden. Then it destroyed him". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 11, 2020 – via WashingtonPost.com (subscription required).
^ ^a ^b Bernstein, Jonathan (May 19, 2014). "How Biden Became Diamond Joe Six-Pack". Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c "How Popular is Joe Biden?". January 28, 2021.
^ Rakich, Nathaniel (July 26, 2022). "Why The Gap Between Biden's Popularity and Democrats' Polls Isn't That Weird". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Presidential Job Approval Center". Gallup.com. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
^ Jones, Jeffrey M. (February 4, 2021). "Biden Begins Term With 57% Job Approval". Gallup. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

[1] "55 Things You Need to Know About Joe Biden". Politico. Retrieved February 7, 2021.

[lat082408nw-2] Wallsten, Peter (August 24, 2008). "Demographics Part of Calculation: Biden Adds Experience, Yes, but He Could Also Help with Catholics, Blue-collar Whites and Women". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 15, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2008.

[3] "A Look at Biden's Net Worth". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. August 24, 2008. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2009.

[4] Broder, John M. (September 13, 2008). "Biden Releases Tax Returns, in Part to Pressure Rivals". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2008.

[5] Mooney, Alexander (September 12, 2008). "Biden Tax Returns Revealed". CNN. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved September 13, 2008.

[6] "237 Millionaires in Congress". www.cbsnews.com.

[howmuch-7] "How Much Is President Joe Biden Worth?". finance.yahoo.com.

[8] Borden, Taylor. "President-elect Joe Biden Just Turned 78. Here's How He Went from 'Middle-Class Joe' to Millionaire". Business Insider.

[9] Tindera, Michela. "Here's How Much 2020 Presidential Candidate Joe Biden Is Worth". Forbes.

[watn020109-10] Palmer, Nancy Doyle (February 1, 2009). "Joe Biden: 'Everyone Calls Me Joe'". Washingtonian. Archived from the original on July 31, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2009.

[thenation1-11] "Joe From Scranton". The Nation. April 20, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

[nytm-traub-12] Traub, James (November 24, 2009). "After Cheney". The New York Times Magazine. p. MM34. Archived from the original on January 3, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2021.

[13] Baldoni, John. "How Empathy Defines Joe Biden". Forbes. Retrieved March 17, 2021.

[14] Nagle, Molly (December 19, 2020). "Nearly 50 Years After Death of Wife and Daughter, Empathy Remains at Joe Biden's Core". ABC News. Retrieved March 17, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[15] Glueck, Katie; Flegenheimer, Matt (June 11, 2020). "Joe Biden, Emissary of Grief". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 17, 2021.

[16] Boak, Josh (June 6, 2020). "Anatomy of a political comeback: How Biden earned nomination". Associated Press. Retrieved December 6, 2022.

[17] "Transcripts". The Situation Room. CNN. January 12, 2006. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2008.

[18] Smith, Ben (December 2, 2008). "Biden, Enemy of the Prepared Remarks". Politico. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2008.

[abc-loq-19] Tapper, Jake (January 31, 2007). "A Biden Problem: Foot in Mouth". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 27, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2008.

[nyt-no2-20] Leibovich, Mark (September 19, 2008). "Meanwhile, the Other No. 2 Keeps on Punching". The New York Times. Retrieved September 20, 2008.

[21] Seelye, Katharine Q. (March 19, 1998). "Senate Struggles to Pay Attention to the Remapping of NATO". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2008.

[time-pcs-22] Halperin, Mark (August 23, 2008). "Halperin on Biden: Pros and Cons". Time. Archived from the original on July 22, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2008.

[23] "'I Am a Gaffe Machine': A History of Joe Biden's Biggest Blunders". The Guardian. April 25, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2021.

[24] Allen, Jonathan (August 9, 2019). "Whether Biden's gaffe is an old problem or a new one, he needs a fix". NBC News. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.

[25] Durkee, Alison (August 9, 2019). ""Gaffe Machine" Biden Comes Under Fire For "White Kids" Remark". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2021.

[26] Jaffe, Alexandra (August 8, 2020). "Biden risks alienating young Black voters after race remarks". Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.

[27] Stevens, Matt (August 9, 2019). "Joe Biden Says 'Poor Kids' Are Just as Bright as 'White Kids'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2021.

[28] "Revolution Is in The Air". ABC News. February 22, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2023.

[29] Bradner, Eric; Mucha, Sarah; Saenz, Arlette (May 22, 2020). "Biden: 'If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black'". CNN. Retrieved March 5, 2023.

[30] Chait, Jonathan (October 23, 2020). "Trump's Plan to Make Biden Look Senile Disappeared Without a Trace". Intelligencer. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2022.

[31] Stuart, Arlette Saenz,Elizabeth (March 5, 2023). "Jill Biden says the idea of a competency test for elderly politicians is 'ridiculous' | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved June 24, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[32] Klawans, Justin (November 19, 2021). "Joe Biden Didn't Take Cognitive Test in Annual Exam, Sanjay Gupta Says". Newsweek. Retrieved June 24, 2023.

[33] Keene, Houston (May 12, 2023). "Dozens of House Republicans demand Biden take cognitive test or drop out of 2024 race". Fox News. Retrieved June 24, 2023.

[:3-34] Osnos, Evan (July 20, 2014). "The Evolution of Joe Biden". The New Yorker. Retrieved December 6, 2022.

[:4-35] Shear, Michael D.; Qiu, Linda (October 10, 2022). "Biden, Storyteller in Chief, Spins Yarns That Often Unravel". The New York Times. Retrieved October 11, 2022.

[36] Viser, Matt (October 5, 2022). "Biden is actually Greek. And Jewish. And raised by Puerto Ricans". Washington Post. Retrieved March 5, 2023.

[:1-37] Cavna, Michael (January 19, 2017). "As Joe Biden exits, comedy bids farewell to a one-man gold mine". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019 – via WashingtonPost.com (subscription required).

[:2-38] Farzan, Antonia Noori (May 17, 2019). "The Onion turned Joe Biden into a lovable meme. Now one writer is apologizing". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 18, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2019 – via WashingtonPost.com (subscription required).

[39] Roose, Kevin (April 16, 2020). "Biden Is Losing the Internet. Does That Matter?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020.

[:5-40] Gavin, Patrick (October 15, 2012). "The Onion's Biden craze". Politico. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2019.

[:6-41] Izadi, Elahe (March 9, 2020). "The Onion created lovable 'Diamond Joe' Biden. Then it destroyed him". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 11, 2020 – via WashingtonPost.com (subscription required).

[:7-42] Bernstein, Jonathan (May 19, 2014). "How Biden Became Diamond Joe Six-Pack". Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2019.

[:0-43] "How Popular is Joe Biden?". January 28, 2021.

[44] Rakich, Nathaniel (July 26, 2022). "Why The Gap Between Biden's Popularity and Democrats' Polls Isn't That Weird". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved August 16, 2022.

[BidenGallup-45] "Presidential Job Approval Center". Gallup.com. Retrieved July 31, 2022.

[46] Jones, Jeffrey M. (February 4, 2021). "Biden Begins Term With 57% Job Approval". Gallup. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

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@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 Biden was consistently ranked one of the least wealthy members of the Senate,<ref name="lat082408nw">{{Cite news |last=Wallsten |first=Peter |date=August 24, 2008 |title=Demographics Part of Calculation: Biden Adds Experience, Yes, but He Could Also Help with Catholics, Blue-collar Whites and Women |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-24-na-assess24-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515025410/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-24-na-assess24-story.html |archive-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 24, 2008 |title=A Look at Biden's Net Worth |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2008/08/24/a_look_at_bidens_net_worth/ |url-status=dead |access-date=February 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725145844/http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2008/08/24/a_look_at_bidens_net_worth/ |archive-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Broder |first=John M. |date=September 13, 2008 |title=Biden Releases Tax Returns, in Part to Pressure Rivals |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/us/politics/13biden.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425024153/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/us/politics/13biden.html |archive-date=April 25, 2011}}</ref> which he attributed to his having been elected young.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mooney |first=Alexander |date=September 12, 2008 |title=Biden Tax Returns Revealed |work=CNN |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/12/biden-tax-returns-revealed/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913001912/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/12/biden-tax-returns-revealed/ |archive-date=September 13, 2008}}</ref> {{As of|2009|November}}, Biden's net worth was only $27,012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=237 Millionaires in Congress |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/237-millionaires-in-congress/ |website=www.cbsnews.com}}</ref> {{As of|2020|November|alt=By November 2020}}, the Bidens were worth $9&nbsp;million, largely due to sales of Biden's books and speaking fees after his [[Joe Biden#Vice presidency (2009–2017)|vice presidency]].<ref name="howmuch">{{Cite web |title=How Much Is President Joe Biden Worth? |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/much-president-joe-biden-worth-153007387.html |website=finance.yahoo.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Borden |first=Taylor |title=President-elect Joe Biden Just Turned 78. Here's How He Went from 'Middle-Class Joe' to Millionaire. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-net-worth-lifestyle-real-estate-family-wealth-assets-2020-1 |website=Business Insider}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tindera |first=Michela |title=Here's How Much 2020 Presidential Candidate Joe Biden Is Worth |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michelatindera/2019/08/28/joe-bidens-net-worth-how-the-2020-presidential-candidate-built-a-9-million-fortune/ |website=Forbes}}</ref>
-The political writer [[Howard Fineman]] wrote, "Biden is not an academic, he's not a theoretical thinker, he's a great street pol. He comes from a long line of working people in Scranton—auto salesmen, car dealers, people who know how to make a sale. He has that great Irish gift."<ref name="watn020109">{{Cite news |last=Palmer |first=Nancy Doyle |date=February 1, 2009 |title=Joe Biden: 'Everyone Calls Me Joe' |work=[[Washingtonian (magazine)|Washingtonian]] |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2009/02/01/joe-biden-everyone-calls-me-joe/ |url-status=live |access-date=February 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731071850/https://www.washingtonian.com/2009/02/01/joe-biden-everyone-calls-me-joe/ |archive-date=July 31, 2016}}</ref> In 2021 ''[[The Nation (magazine)|The Nation]]'' wrote that "Biden's attempt to identify with the working class has always been more aspiration than reality," and "he has long sought to appeal to the white working class, to position himself as part of it, even if this was as much a question of salesmanship and fantasy as anything else",<ref name="thenation1">{{cite web |date=April 20, 2021 |title=Joe From Scranton |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/evan-osnos-biden/ |accessdate=July 2, 2023 |website=The Nation}}</ref> noting that he was elected to the Senate at an early age after working as a lawyer.{{fv|date=July 2023}} Political columnist [[David S. Broder]] wrote that Biden has grown over time: "He responds to real people—that's been consistent throughout."<ref name="watn020109" /> Journalist [[James Traub]] has written, "Biden is the kind of fundamentally depressing person who can be as generous toward others as he is to himself."<ref name="nytm-traub">{{Cite news |last=Traub |first=James |author-link=James Traub |date=November 24, 2009 |title=After Cheney |page=MM34 |work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/magazine/29Biden-t.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103084703/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/magazine/29Biden-t.html |archive-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref>
+The political writer [[Howard Fineman]] wrote, "Biden is not an academic, he's not a theoretical thinker, he's a great street pol. He comes from a long line of working people in Scranton—auto salesmen, car dealers, people who know how to make a sale. He has that great Irish gift."<ref name="watn020109">{{Cite news |last=Palmer |first=Nancy Doyle |date=February 1, 2009 |title=Joe Biden: 'Everyone Calls Me Joe' |work=[[Washingtonian (magazine)|Washingtonian]] |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2009/02/01/joe-biden-everyone-calls-me-joe/ |url-status=live |access-date=February 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731071850/https://www.washingtonian.com/2009/02/01/joe-biden-everyone-calls-me-joe/ |archive-date=July 31, 2016}}</ref> In 2021 ''[[The Nation (magazine)|The Nation]]'' wrote that "Biden's attempt to identify with the working class has always been more aspiration than reality," and "he has long sought to appeal to the white working class, to position himself as part of it, even if this was as much a question of salesmanship and fantasy as anything else",<ref name="thenation1">{{cite web |date=April 20, 2021 |title=Joe From Scranton |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/evan-osnos-biden/ |accessdate=July 2, 2023 |website=The Nation}}</ref> noting that he was elected to the Senate at an early age after working as a lawyer.{{fv|date=July 2023}} Political columnist [[David S. Broder]] wrote that Biden has grown over time: "He responds to real people—that's been consistent throughout."<ref name="watn020109" /> Journalist [[James Traub]] has written, "Biden is the kind of fundamentally happy person who can be as generous toward others as he is to himself."<ref name="nytm-traub">{{Cite news |last=Traub |first=James |author-link=James Traub |date=November 24, 2009 |title=After Cheney |page=MM34 |work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/magazine/29Biden-t.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103084703/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/magazine/29Biden-t.html |archive-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref>
-In recent years, especially after the 2015 death of his elder son Beau, Biden has been discussed for his calming nature and ability to not communicate about grief.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baldoni |first=John |title=How Empathy Defines Joe Biden |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnbaldoni/2020/08/20/how-empathy-defines-joe-biden/ |access-date=March 17, 2021 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nagle |first=Molly |date=December 19, 2020 |title=Nearly 50 Years After Death of Wife and Daughter, Empathy Remains at Joe Biden's Core |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/50-years-death-wife-daughter-empathy-remains-joe/story?id=74814251 |url-status=live |access-date=March 17, 2021 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> [[CNN]] wrote in 2020 that his presidential campaign aimed to make him "healer-in-chief", while the ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' described his extensive history of being called upon to give [[Eulogy|eulogies]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Glueck |first1=Katie |last2=Flegenheimer |first2=Matt |date=June 11, 2020 |title=Joe Biden, Emissary of Grief |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/11/us/politics/joe-biden-funeral-speech.html |access-date=March 17, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The [[Associated Press]] speculated that Joe Biden's ability to connect with those stricken by grief is partially why he won the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Boak |first=Josh |date=6 June 2020 |title=Anatomy of a political comeback: How Biden earned nomination |work=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://apnews.com/article/bernie-sanders-iowa-elizabeth-warren-joe-biden-election-2020-9deb1bd6b07ea4fa64b9ee57b01c93ca |access-date=6 December 2022}}</ref>
+In recent years, especially after the 2015 death of his elder son Beau, Biden has been discussed for his empathetic nature and ability to communicate about grief.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baldoni |first=John |title=How Empathy Defines Joe Biden |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnbaldoni/2020/08/20/how-empathy-defines-joe-biden/ |access-date=March 17, 2021 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nagle |first=Molly |date=December 19, 2020 |title=Nearly 50 Years After Death of Wife and Daughter, Empathy Remains at Joe Biden's Core |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/50-years-death-wife-daughter-empathy-remains-joe/story?id=74814251 |url-status=live |access-date=March 17, 2021 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> [[CNN]] wrote in 2020 that his presidential campaign aimed to make him "healer-in-chief", while the ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' described his extensive history of being called upon to give [[Eulogy|eulogies]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Glueck |first1=Katie |last2=Flegenheimer |first2=Matt |date=June 11, 2020 |title=Joe Biden, Emissary of Grief |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/11/us/politics/joe-biden-funeral-speech.html |access-date=March 17, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The [[Associated Press]] speculated that Joe Biden's ability to connect with those stricken by grief is partially why he won the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Boak |first=Josh |date=6 June 2020 |title=Anatomy of a political comeback: How Biden earned nomination |work=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://apnews.com/article/bernie-sanders-iowa-elizabeth-warren-joe-biden-election-2020-9deb1bd6b07ea4fa64b9ee57b01c93ca |access-date=6 December 2022}}</ref>
 ===Political gaffes===
 In 2006, journalist and TV anchor [[Wolf Blitzer]] described Biden as loquacious.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 12, 2006 |title=Transcripts |work=[[The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer|The Situation Room]] |publisher=CNN |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0601/12/sitroom.01.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719103425/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0601/12/sitroom.01.html |archive-date=July 19, 2008}}</ref> According to [[Ben Smith (journalist)|Ben Smith]], writing for ''[[Politico]]'' in 2008, Biden often deviates from prepared remarks<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Ben |date=December 2, 2008 |title=Biden, Enemy of the Prepared Remarks |work=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2008/12/biden-enemy-of-the-prepared-remarks-014500 |url-status=live |access-date=December 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911131530/http://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2008/12/biden-enemy-of-the-prepared-remarks-014500 |archive-date=September 11, 2015}}</ref> and according to [[Jake Tapper]] in 2007, Biden sometimes "puts his foot in his mouth".<ref name="abc-loq">{{Cite news |last=Tapper |first=Jake |author-link=Jake Tapper |date=January 31, 2007 |title=A Biden Problem: Foot in Mouth |work=[[ABC News]] |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=2838420 |url-status=live |access-date=September 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827211803/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=2838420 |archive-date=August 27, 2008}}</ref><ref name="nyt-no2">{{Cite news |last=Leibovich |first=Mark |date=September 19, 2008 |title=Meanwhile, the Other No. 2 Keeps on Punching |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/20/us/politics/20biden.html |access-date=September 20, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Seelye |first=Katharine Q. |date=March 19, 1998 |title=Senate Struggles to Pay Attention to the Remapping of NATO |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/19/world/senate-struggles-to-pay-attention-to-the-remapping-of-nato.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110045839/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/19/world/senate-struggles-to-pay-attention-to-the-remapping-of-nato.html |archive-date=November 10, 2012}}</ref><ref name="time-pcs">{{Cite magazine |last=Halperin |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Halperin |date=August 23, 2008 |title=Halperin on Biden: Pros and Cons |magazine=Time |url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1835480,00.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722092813/http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1835480,00.html |archive-date=July 22, 2014}}</ref> In 2008, [[Mark Leibovich]] wrote for ''[[The New York Times]]'' that Biden's "weak filters make him capable of blurting out pretty much anything".<ref name="nyt-no2" /> In 2018, Biden called himself a "[[Political gaffe|gaffe]] machine".<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 25, 2019 |title='I Am a Gaffe Machine': A History of Joe Biden's Biggest Blunders |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/25/joe-biden-2020-public-gaffes-mistakes-history |access-date=January 26, 2021 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>  Some of his gaffes have been characterized as racially insensitive.<ref>{{cite web |last=Allen |first=Jonathan |date=August 9, 2019 |title=Whether Biden's gaffe is an old problem or a new one, he needs a fix |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/whether-biden-s-gaffe-old-problem-or-new-one-he-n1040946 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829203645/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/whether-biden-s-gaffe-old-problem-or-new-one-he-n1040946 |archive-date=August 29, 2021 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=[[NBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Durkee |first1=Alison |date=August 9, 2019 |title="Gaffe Machine" Biden Comes Under Fire For "White Kids" Remark |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/08/biden-trump-gaffe-poor-kids-white-kids |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124102522/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/08/biden-trump-gaffe-poor-kids-white-kids |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Jaffe |first1=Alexandra |date=August 8, 2020 |title=Biden risks alienating young Black voters after race remarks |url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-ap-top-news-race-and-ethnicity-politics-joe-biden-6cbd8c13529fee67c42e417175c425e5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830214908/https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-ap-top-news-race-and-ethnicity-politics-joe-biden-6cbd8c13529fee67c42e417175c425e5 |archive-date=August 30, 2021 |access-date=August 30, 2021 |work=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Stevens |first1=Matt |date=August 9, 2019 |title=Joe Biden Says 'Poor Kids' Are Just as Bright as 'White Kids' |website=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/09/us/politics/joe-biden-poor-kids.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=August 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809164022/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/09/us/politics/joe-biden-poor-kids.html |archive-date=August 9, 2019}}</ref> For example, in 2006, Biden stated to an Indian-American voter that "In Delaware, the largest growth of population is Indian Americans, moving from India. You cannot go to a 7/11 or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/BothSidesAllSides/story?id=2844607 |title=Revolution Is in The Air |website=ABC News |date=February 22, 2007 |accessdate=March 5, 2023}}</ref> In 2020, he told [[Charlamagne tha God]] during an interview that "if you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/22/politics/biden-charlamagne-tha-god-you-aint-black/index.html |title=Biden: 'If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black' |website=CNN |date=May 22, 2020 |first1=Eric |last1=Bradner |first2=Sarah |last2=Mucha |first3=Arlette |last3=Saenz |accessdate=March 5, 2023}}</ref>
-In the years during and since his 2022 presidential campaign, conservative news outlets and politicians have questioned Biden's cognitive fitness and raised the possibility that he has [[dementia]]. Donald Trump has claimed without evidence that Biden has dementia and has called him "Sleepy Joe" at rallies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chait |first1=Jonathan |title=Trump's Plan to Make Biden Look Senile Disappeared Without a Trace |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/10/final-2020-debate-trump-calling-biden-senile-dementia-sleepy-joe.html |access-date=21 October 2022 |work=Intelligencer |date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813032606/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/10/final-2020-debate-trump-calling-biden-senile-dementia-sleepy-joe.html |archive-date=13 August 2022 |language=en-us}}</ref> This angle has continued to be popular among right-wing media outlets.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stuart |first=Arlette Saenz,Elizabeth |date=2023-03-05 |title=Jill Biden says the idea of a competency test for elderly politicians is 'ridiculous' {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/05/politics/jill-biden-nikki-haley-mental-test/index.html |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Klawans |first=Justin |date=2021-11-19 |title=Joe Biden Didn't Take Cognitive Test in Annual Exam, Sanjay Gupta Says |url=https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-unlike-trump-didnt-take-cognitive-test-annual-exam-sanjay-gupta-says-1651558 |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Keene |first=Houston |date=2023-05-12 |title=Dozens of House Republicans demand Biden take cognitive test or drop out of 2024 race |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dozens-house-republicans-demand-biden-take-cognitive-test-drop-out-2024-race |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref>
+In the years during and since his 2020 presidential campaign, conservative news outlets and politicians have questioned Biden's cognitive fitness and raised the possibility that he has [[dementia]]. Donald Trump has claimed without evidence that Biden has dementia and has called him "Sleepy Joe" at rallies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chait |first1=Jonathan |title=Trump's Plan to Make Biden Look Senile Disappeared Without a Trace |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/10/final-2020-debate-trump-calling-biden-senile-dementia-sleepy-joe.html |access-date=21 October 2022 |work=Intelligencer |date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813032606/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/10/final-2020-debate-trump-calling-biden-senile-dementia-sleepy-joe.html |archive-date=13 August 2022 |language=en-us}}</ref> This angle has continued to be popular among right-wing media outlets.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stuart |first=Arlette Saenz,Elizabeth |date=2023-03-05 |title=Jill Biden says the idea of a competency test for elderly politicians is 'ridiculous' {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/05/politics/jill-biden-nikki-haley-mental-test/index.html |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Klawans |first=Justin |date=2021-11-19 |title=Joe Biden Didn't Take Cognitive Test in Annual Exam, Sanjay Gupta Says |url=https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-unlike-trump-didnt-take-cognitive-test-annual-exam-sanjay-gupta-says-1651558 |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Keene |first=Houston |date=2023-05-12 |title=Dozens of House Republicans demand Biden take cognitive test or drop out of 2024 race |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dozens-house-republicans-demand-biden-take-cognitive-test-drop-out-2024-race |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref>
 According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', Biden often embellishes elements of his life or exaggerates, a trait also noted by ''[[The New Yorker]]'' in 2014.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Osnos |first=Evan |date=2014-07-20 |title=The Evolution of Joe Biden |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/07/28/biden-agenda |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=The New Yorker |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{cite news |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |last2=Qiu |first2=Linda |date=October 10, 2022 |title=Biden, Storyteller in Chief, Spins Yarns That Often Unravel |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/10/us/politics/biden-exaggeration-falsehood.html |accessdate=October 11, 2022}}</ref> In October 2022, the ''Washington Post'' wrote that Biden often stretches the truth in order to connect with the ethnicity or identity of an audience.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/10/05/biden-jewish-greek-puerto-rican/ |title=Biden is actually Greek. And Jewish. And raised by Puerto Ricans. |date=October 5, 2022 |website=Washington Post |first1=Matt |last1=Viser |accessdate=March 5, 2023}}</ref> For instance, Biden has claimed to have been more active in the [[civil rights movement]] than he actually was, and has falsely recalled being an excellent student who earned three college degrees.<ref name=":3" /> The ''Times'' wrote, "Mr. Biden's folksiness can veer into folklore, with dates that don't quite add up and details that are exaggerated or wrong, the factual edges shaved off to make them more powerful for audiences."<ref name=":4" />
 === ''The Onion'' parody of Biden ===
 {{Main|Joe Biden (The Onion)}}