Jill Biden Tries To Speak Spanish — Fails Badly, Gets Social Media Backlash
First Lady Jill Biden was recently criticized over her failed attempt to speak Spanish at an event with farmworkers — which also coincided with the birthday of progressive labor leader and activist, Cesar Chavez.
As videos of the incident were shared on social media, critics also pointed out to the bizarre looking flag seen behind her, which many said resembles imagery of a Nazi flag.
The Democratic First Lady spoke of the memory of Chavez in her speech on the grounds of The Forty Acres monument, where she also praised the contributions of farmworkers during the coronavirus pandemic and advocated for her husband — President Joe Biden’s immigration reform policies amid the spiraling crisis at US’ southern border.
Speaking awkwardly in Spanish, the Hammonton, New Jersey-born Jill Biden said: “Si se pwadueh, the future is ours,” towards the end of her speech in front of event attendees in California.
Almost! pic.twitter.com/ZW8PYVlqYn
— Alexei Koseff (@akoseff) March 31, 2021
Her botched attempt at Spanish drew social media backlash and a little mockery — as critics and members of the media piled on Biden for “butchering” the language.
Backlash amid botched Spanish comment
“It’s ‘Si se puede’ (Yes you/we can) not ‘Si se pwadueh,’” Republican Governor Association’s (RGA) Deputy Communications Director, Joanna Rodriguez, who is fluent in Spanish, commented.
It’s “Si se puede” (Yes you/we can) not “Si se pwadueh” 🤦🏻♀️
I can’t even imagine what word she was trying to say. Seriously why even try pandering if you’re going to butcher it and not practice before?! https://t.co/yKluZVSP6w
— Joanna Rodriguez (@joannamrod) April 1, 2021
“I can’t even imagine what word she was trying to say. Seriously why even try pandering if you’re going to butcher it and not practice before?!” Rodriguez added.
Journalist Dania Alexandrino also called out Biden’s remark.
“Si se what???? I’m sure someone will surely tell Jill Biden ‘puadray’ is NOT a word in the Spanish dictionary,”Alexandrino, who is a native Spanish speaker responded to the First Lady’s comments.
Si se what???? I’m sure some one will surely tell Jill Biden “puadray” is NOT a word in the Spanish dictionary. For those who are celebrating her effort, yeah NO! Very far from “Si se Puede” which means “Yes (we) can.” We in parenthesis because it can also be yes you can! https://t.co/sWVfzhwgG9
— 🇺🇸🇵🇷Dania Alexandrino🇺🇸🇵🇷 (@DaniaPeriodista) April 1, 2021
“For those who are celebrating her effort, yeah NO! Very far from ‘Si se Puede’ which means ‘Yes (we) can.’ We in parenthesis because it can also be ‘yes you can!” she added.
Another Twitter user, commented with a video of President Biden also bungling the name of his Health and Human Services Secretary pick, Xavier Becerra.
which is worse?https://t.co/x9DlJjux9O
— Jeremy B. White (@JeremyBWhite) March 31, 2021
“This means she literally neither listened to nor heard Obama say this when her husband was his second in command for nearly a decade of her life,” another comment said.
This means she literally neither listened to nor heard Obama say this when her husband was his second in command for nearly a decade of her life.
— Kim Ketola (@kimketola) March 31, 2021
“It’s wild that in the course of three months we went from a supermodel First Lady who spoke five languages, to fake Dr. Pwadway,” one comment read.
It’s wild that in the course of three months we went from a supermodel First Lady who spoke five languages, to fake Dr. Pwadway https://t.co/avqc7Cp0v0
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) April 1, 2021
Nazi-looking flag behind Jill Biden
Meanwhile, as comments piled on Jill Biden’s remark, others took notice of the controversial looking flag behind her as she spoke — which observers said “resembles Nazi imagery” — although it turned out to be the official flag of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW).
The eagle featured was also allegedly designed by Chavez’s brother, Richard Chavez.
Questioning the @FLOTUS staffers who thought it was a good idea to put their boss in front of what looks like a giant Nazi eagle https://t.co/nj4qhm7VeH
— Christian Datoc (@TocRadio) April 1, 2021
“Questioning the @FLOTUS staffers who thought it was a good idea to put their boss in front of what looks like a giant Nazi eagle,” Daily Caller White House correspondent Christian Datoc tweeted.
The fuck is behind her?! pic.twitter.com/lTBv8p4U5d
— it’s jaco. (@jaco_thefirst) April 1, 2021
Human Events Managing Editor Ian Miles Cheong also questioned: “Is Jill Biden standing in front of a derivative of the Nazi flag? Let’s get some fact checkers on that.”
Is Jill Biden standing in front of a derivative of the Nazi flag? Let’s get some fact checkers on that. https://t.co/SK2Aoy1UMn pic.twitter.com/oudOwG4tDq
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 31, 2021
Nonetheless, the organization noted that the eagle featured in the symbol is an Aztec eagle.
“A symbol is an important thing. That is why we chose an Aztec eagle,” Cesar Chavez — who also had a history of making bigoted remarks toward immigrants — said, according to the UFW’s trademark right.“It gives pride…When people see it they know it means dignity.”
