Biden Did Not Say He Was Born in Israel

The claim that Biden was born in Israel was shared in an article of the Russian State News Agency TASS, published on 18 October 2023. The article states that the spokesperson of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Maria Zakharova stated that Biden claimed to be born in Israel. However, as can be seen from the White House transcript, Biden said that “the State of Israel was born to be a safe place for the Jewish people in the world”. After that he said, “that’s why it was born”, and not, ”that’s why I was born”. Additionally, Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1942. The State of Israel was proclaimed in May 1948

A Facebook post containing a video excerpt from a speech given by US President Joe Biden where he, allegedly, says that he was born in Israel. This is not true.

Uncle Joe says he was born in Israel. Pest, states the post.

Biden’s tendency for slip-ups during public speeches slips became the main criticism of his opponents. However, part of his last speech in Israel seems to have been misheard by some officials, including the spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry. After that incorrect interpretation, it has been shared on social media as yet another one of his gaffes.

Last Wednesday, amid the enhanced conflict between Israel and Hamas, President Biden held a speech in Tel Aviv. Afterwards, Russian State media published that he had said that he was born in Israel. This falsehood spread on social media as well.

As specified in the White House’s transcript, Biden was talking about how:

The State of Israel was born to be a safe place for the Jewish people of the world.

Followed by:

That’s why it was born.

And not:

That’s why I was born, as incorrectly interpreted by the Russian media, and as claimed on social media.

And this falsehood is disseminated on the social networks.

However, given the context of Biden’s speech and the well-established facts regarding his birthplace, it becomes clear that he could not have said that he was born in Israel, as that would not make any sense. If one reads or listens to the speech in its entirety, it becomes evident that he did not say that he was born in Israel.

Additionally, there are public records which confirm that Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1942. The State of Israel was proclaimed in May 1948. Biden’s parents were born in the USA, with British and Irish heritage. The US Constitution requires that President to be a “citizen born in the USA”.

The claim that Biden was born in Israel was shared in an article by the Russian News Agency TASS, published on 18 October 2023, specifying that the spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, had stated that Biden had claimed to be born in Israel.

Just now, [US President] Biden said that he was born in Israel. That means that he never should have been elected US President, she said.

Although Biden does have a tendency for slip-ups while speaking, a number of incorrect claims also bolster that reputation. This fact-checked post assessed as untrue is such an example. Biden was not born in Israel, but in Pennsylvania in 1942, and Israel was proclaimed a State in 1948.

All comments and remarks regarding this and other Vistinomer articles, correction and clarification requests as well as suggestions for fact-checking politicians’ statements and political parties’ promises can be submitted by using this form