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Former President Joe Biden told mourners at Rev. Jesse Jackson’s memorial service Friday that he is “a h— of a lot smarter than most of you,” a pointed remark that stood out during his tribute to the late civil rights leader.
Biden made the comment while recounting how he was mocked as a child for his stutter and how speech impediments are often mistaken for a lack of intelligence.
“If I told you I had a cleft palate or clubfoot, none of you would have laughed,” Biden said. “But it’s OK to laugh at stuttering. … It’s the one place where people think you’re stupid.
“Oh, really? I’m a h— of a lot smarter than most of you,” he added, before quickly pivoting back to his broader point. “But all kidding aside, it makes you feel really small.”
Former President Joe Biden speaks at a public memorial service to celebrate the life of civil rights activist Jesse Jackson in Chicago March 6, 2026 (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)
Biden made the remark during a memorial service in Chicago that brought together prominent Democratic leaders and civil rights figures to honor Jackson’s decades-long political influence.
Former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton attended the service along with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Kamala Harris and Rev. Al Sharpton.
The event was held at the 10,000-seat House of Hope arena, where hundreds gathered to celebrate Jackson’s life and legacy.
VANCE, HARRIS, OBAMA ISSUE TRIBUTES TO REV JESSE JACKSON
Former President Joe Biden speaks at a celebration of life service for civil rights leader Jesse Jackson Sr. at the House of Hope arena March 6, 2026, in Chicago. Jackson died Feb. 17 after a lengthy battle with progressive supranuclear palsy. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Jackson, who died at age 84, rose to prominence as a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement. He later founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and…
