In a recent State of the Union address, President Joe Biden and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) engaged in a heated exchange that led to Biden mispronouncing the name of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia who was killed in February.
Greene had previously challenged Biden to say Riley’s name during his speech. When he did mention her, he referred to her as “Laken Riley,” which is not her name. This error was met with criticism from some who saw it as disrespectful to the memory of the young woman.
The incident highlighted the ongoing debate over border security and immigration policy in the United States. Riley’s accused killer, a man who entered the country illegally, has become a rallying point for Republicans who argue that Biden’s policies have made the country less safe.
????Wow! Chaos at the State of the Union as Biden mispronounces Laken Riley's name during a tense standoff with House Republicans. Watch the intense confrontation and see the reactions here: https://t.co/eXXWaANXUa #Biden #LakenRiley #StateOfTheUnion
— Patriot911 (@Patriot911News) March 8, 2024
During the State of the Union address, Biden called on Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to secure the border and modernize the country’s immigration laws. He also praised the efforts of law enforcement in apprehending the suspect in Riley’s murder.
The incident has further polarized an already divided political landscape, with both sides using it to advance their own agendas. It remains to be seen how the debate over border security and immigration policy will play out in the coming months and years.
