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Jill Biden has ‘please clap’ moment, awkwardly begs for applause from silent crowd

May 26, 2023 | | Print Article

Team Biden has been pushing a faux unity theme for so long — even as they spew the most divisive rhetoric at tens of millions of Americans on the right — that the politicized talking points no longer draw interest.

At least, that was the case on Thursday when first lady Jill Biden was speaking at the Reagan Institute Summit on Education (RISE) in Washington, D.C. After dropping an applause line on unity and getting nothing from the crowd, Mrs. Biden did her best Jeb Bush impersonation.

“I’ve visited red states and blue states and I’ve found that the common values that unite us are deeper than our divisions,” she said, pausing for the anticipated applause.

But the audience sat silent, prompting Biden to add, “And, um, I thought you might clap for that.”

The appeal sparked laughter and a dutiful round of clapping, as seen here:

The incident brings to mind the cringeworthy moment in the 2016 Republican presidential primary when Jeb Bush was speaking to an unenthusiastic crowd in New Hampshire. Talking about what kind of commander-in-chief he would be if elected president, Bush dropped his applause line and got nothing in return.

“I think the next president needs to be a lot quieter but send a signal that we’re prepared to act in the national security interest of this country, to get back into the business of a more peaceful world,” he said.

It was at that moment that Bush meekly asked of the silent room,” Please clap.”

The annual summit Biden spoke at hosts education leaders from across the country and, in addition to an appearance by Mrs. Biden, former Arkansas Republican Gov. Asa Hutchison, and Maryland Democrat Gov. Wes Moore also delivered remarks, according to Fox News.

“RISE will examine policy and practice from early childhood through postsecondary education and beyond. The imperative for education reform is even more salient as the United States emerges from the global pandemic,” the foundation said on its website of the two-day conference. “We must answer the call to modernize our education system and prepare for the challenges of the 22nd century.”

As if the elite class hasn’t done enough to education already.

Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story, as seen on Twitter:

Tom Tillison
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