Jill Biden’s applause line falls flat; first lady tells audience: ‘I thought you might clap for that’
First lady Jill Biden didn’t get the reaction she was expecting on Thursday when she delivered what she thought was a line of applause, only for her quip to fall flat, leading the first lady to encourage the audience to applaud.
“I have visited red states and blue states and found that the common values that unite us run deeper than our divisions,” she said before taking a moment to pause.
Receiving no reaction from the crowd, the first lady added, “I thought you might clap for that.” The crowd quickly obeyed.
The first lady’s remarks were part of the Reagan Institute Summit on Education (RISE) in Washington, DC
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First lady Jill Biden’s comments on unity in America at the Reagan Institute’s annual summit on education didn’t elicit the reaction she was hoping for. (Reagan Institute Summit on Education)
The annual conference, according to the Ronald Reagan Foundation and Institute, “welcomes education leaders from across the country” and, in addition to comments from the first lady, this year included remarks from the former Republican governor. Arkansas Asa Hutchison and Democratic Governor of Maryland. Wes Moore.
“RISE will examine policies and practices from early childhood through post-secondary education and beyond. The imperative for education reform is even greater as the United States emerges from the global pandemic,” the Reagan Foundation said on its website of the two-day conference, which took place on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. “We must answer the call to modernize our education system and prepare for the challenges of the 22nd century.”
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President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden return to the White House on May 15, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Several social media users were quick to compare the first lady’s statement to that of former Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush, who memorably urged his followers to “please clap” during of a campaign event during the 2016 election.
“Awkward,” wrote one Twitter user. A second user shared a GIF of Bush pleading with those in the crowd in 2016 to applaud.
“No one clapped because they don’t believe you. Sorry,” another Twitter user wrote.
In February 2016, Bush unwittingly became a political trailblazer at a campaign event in New Hampshire.
Then-Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush addresses a crowd during an event at City Hall February 8, 2016 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
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“I think the next president needs to be much quieter, but send a signal that we’re ready to act in the national security interests of this country, to get back to business for a more peaceful world,” he said. Bush passionately, subtly gliding over then-Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.
Faced with a long silence from the crowd, Bush then said, “Please clap. The call from Bush – the son of former President George HW Bush and the younger brother of former President George W. Bush – drew applause and cheers.
Joseph A. Wulfsohn of Fox News contributed to this article.
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