Mother Criticizes President Biden for Mispronouncing Daughter’s Name in State of the Union Speech
In a heartbreaking turn of events, the mother of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley has publicly criticized President Biden for fumbling her daughter’s name during the State of the Union speech. Allyson Philips took to Facebook to express her disappointment, calling Biden “pathetic” for his slip-up.
The incident occurred during Biden’s speech when he mistakenly referred to Laken Riley as “Lincoln Riley.” The 22-year-old nursing student was tragically murdered on the University of Georgia campus just two weeks prior to the speech. Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-Ga.) prompted Biden by yelling, “Say her name!” from the audience.
“I know how to say her name,” Biden fired back at Taylor-Greene. He then continued, “Lincoln — Lincoln Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal,” while holding a button given to him by Taylor-Greene with Riley’s name on it.
Allyson Philips, understandably heartbroken, expressed her frustration on Facebook, insisting that if Biden was going to say her daughter’s name, he should at least say it correctly. She also responded with “Amen!” to a comment referring to Biden as “a disgrace of a president.”
The suspect arrested for Riley’s murder is 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, a migrant from Venezuela. Shockingly, both Ibarra and his older brother Diego were free in the Athens, Ga., area despite their connections to a deadly gang. A third brother, Argeinis Ibarra, was also reportedly arrested in the college town the day after Riley’s murder.
During his speech, Biden used the incident to call attention to the need for immigration reform. He urged Republicans to sign a bipartisan bill on immigration legislation that had been rejected in February. The bill aimed to bring order to the border and save lives, according to Biden.
However, not everyone agrees with Biden’s approach to immigration. National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman Steve Daines (R-Mont.) criticized the bill, stating that he couldn’t support it due to concerns about border security and taxpayer-funded lawyers for illegal immigrants.
Critics of Biden’s administration argue that they have not effectively enforced immigration rules and have allowed millions of people into the country. The number of encounters at the southern border reached a record high in the 2023 financial year, with 2.4 million encounters. The situation has overwhelmed the country, leading Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to admit that it is a crisis.
Riley’s family is well aware of the border crisis and its consequences. In addition to expressing their disappointment with Biden’s mispronunciation of their daughter’s name, they have also voiced concerns about the flow of criminals into the country due to open borders.
Riley’s stepmother, Amanda Stasko Holt, called out the political posturing surrounding the issue and emphasized the need for border closure. She questioned the efficacy of sending migrants out of the country when they can easily return.
The criticism of Biden’s vocabulary didn’t stop at mispronouncing Riley’s name. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi chimed in, suggesting that he should have used the term “undocumented” instead of “illegal.”
Biden, when questioned about his choice of words, struggled to defend his stance. He acknowledged that he wasn’t technically supposed to be using the term “illegal.”
Riley’s parents declined an invitation to the State of the Union from GOP Rep. Mike Collins, as they felt it was more important to honor their daughter’s memory. The seat reserved for their guest remained vacant as a tribute to Laken and all American victims of illegal alien crime.
The tragic loss of Laken Riley has once again brought immigration and border security to the forefront of political discourse. As the nation grapples with finding effective solutions, families like Riley’s continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones. It remains to be seen how the Biden administration will address these concerns and work towards a safer and more secure country.
