Biden’s Controversial Statement About Teaching Role at UPenn Stirs Debate
President Joe Biden made a claim on September 14 that he used to “teach political theory” at the University of Pennsylvania. However, there are nuances to this statement. Biden did hold an honorary professorship at the Philadelphia school as the Benjamin Franklin Presidential Professor of the Practice from February 2017 to April 2019, sandwiched between his role as vice president and the launch of his presidential campaign.
It’s important to note that Biden did not fulfil the typical duties of a professor, such as conducting regular classes, independent research, or administrative responsibilities. While he did make appearances on campus, he was not involved in the day-to-day activities of a professor. For instance, in November 2017, he visited the campus to promote his book, “Promise Me, Dad,” rather than teach classes.
During his time at UPenn, Biden participated in Q&A sessions with university administrators, gave a lecture to graduate students at the Wharton business school, and attended public events with notable figures like former Mexican President Felipe Calderon and former UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. His affiliation with UPenn did result in approximately $900,000 in income.
This statement from Biden follows previous accusations of inaccuracies, including his claim of being present at the World Trade Centre site a day after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. His own autobiography places him in Washington, D.C., at the time, not at the World Trade Centre site. He also made claims about witnessing a fireball from the plane crash in rural Pennsylvania following a passenger revolt, which contradicts his book that mentions seeing “a brown haze of smoke.”
Critics have accused Biden of lying, with some expressing disappointment in what they perceive as a pattern of dishonesty. These claims have sparked discussions about the honesty and transparency of political figures, with some individuals calling for action against Biden for what they perceive as misleading statements.
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