Conservative activist Rebecca Kiessling testified before Congress last week about how two of her sons died from fentanyl, which led Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to accuse President Joe Biden of being complicit in their deaths.
In a move that has sparked outrage, Biden laughed off the incident and pointed out that the drugs in question were smuggled in under his predecessor.
President Joe Biden reacted to a mother who spoke out about her two sons being killed by fentanyl poisoning by saying that happened "during the last administration" — with a chuckle. pic.twitter.com/Zqfs7RxJ63
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) March 2, 2023
"I’ve read she was very specific recently saying that a mom, a poor mother who lost two kids to fentanyl, that I killed her sons," Biden said.
"Well, the interesting thing: That fentanyl they took came during the last administration," the president added with a chuckle.
According to the New York Post, Kiessling reacted with outrage to Biden's remarks, saying, "What about the 22% increase in fentanyl deaths since you became president?"
"That represents tens of thousands of US citizens who died under your watch, an increase in tens of thousands. That represents double that number of the parents who are suffering," she stressed.
"You’re going to keep laughing? About those who did die under your watch? Do we have to bring them in so you can look them in the eyes and laugh?" Kiessling demanded.
Kiessling wasn't alone in voicing indignation, as Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee declared that Biden "needs to apologize for this immediately," adding, "No person, let alone the president of the United States, laughs when speaking about a mother who lost two sons to fentanyl poisoning."
.@POTUS needs to apologize for this immediately. No person, let alone the president of the United States, laughs when speaking about a mother who lost two sons to fentanyl poisoning. What, President Biden, do you find amusing about this? https://t.co/ItRtOa8x4Y
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) March 2, 2023
Conservative podcaster Robby Starbuck spoke up too, asserting, "Biden just laughed while talking about a Mom whose kid was killed with Fentanyl. This is so incredibly inappropriate and vile."
Biden just laughed while talking about a Mom whose kid was killed with Fentanyl. This is so incredibly inappropriate and vile. pic.twitter.com/XC4CymYHBe
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) March 2, 2023
Jake Schneider serves as a researcher for the Republican National Committee, and he weighed in as well, tweeting, "Truly the lowest bar possible for Biden — what a disgusting person. Losing children to fentanyl trafficking is never, ever funny. Just vile."
I don’t want to read another story about Joe Biden’s supposed “empathy.” https://t.co/4ecNQ0Eh5h
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) March 2, 2023