Former U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a memorial service to celebrate the life of the civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., March 6, 2026. REUTERS/Jim Vondruska
(Chicago, Illinois) – Former President Joe Biden sparked discussion Friday after making a blunt remark about his intelligence while speaking at a memorial honoring civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson.
During his tribute, Biden reflected on his childhood struggle with a stutter and how it led some people to wrongly assume he lacked intelligence. While recounting those experiences, he pushed back against that perception with a pointed line.
“People laugh at stuttering,” Biden told the audience. “It’s the one place where people think you’re stupid.”
He then added, “Oh really? I’m a hell of a lot smarter than most of you,” before shifting his remarks back to the broader message about the emotional impact of being mocked as a child.
“But seriously,” Biden continued, “it makes you feel small.”
The moment came during a large memorial service in Chicago celebrating Jackson’s life and influence. Hundreds attended the event at the House of Hope arena, which has a capacity of about 10,000 people.
A number of prominent political figures were present, including former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton.
Jackson, who passed away at 84, became a national figure during the Civil Rights Movement as an ally of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He later founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, campaigns that significantly boosted Black voter turnout and broadened the Democratic Party’s coalition.
At another point in his speech, Biden also spoke about global population trends, telling the audience that Africa is projected to become the world’s most populous continent by 2050.
He recalled discussing international issues with Jackson and mentioned a past trip involving Nelson Mandela, though the anecdote drew some confusion among listeners.
While the memorial primarily focused on Jackson’s decades of activism and political impact, Biden’s “smarter than most of you” remark quickly circulated online, drawing mixed reactions on social media.
Some users criticized the comment as an unusual statement during a memorial service, while others defended it as part of Biden’s story about overcoming the stigma attached to speech impediments.
Speakers throughout the event emphasized Jackson’s lasting legacy as a civil rights leader who expanded political participation and helped shape modern Democratic politics.
