President Joe Biden was met with shouts of “Let’s Go Brandon” and a Trump flag as he arrived in Kentucky on Wednesday to survey damage from a tornado that killed at least 88 people.
The phrase became a rallying cry after an NBC reporter at a NASCAR Xfinity Series race said that a crowd that was chanting “f-ck Joe Biden” was saying “let’s go, Brandon,” in support of the race winner.
I’m with the president in Mayfield. Looking at destruction. There is a Trump flag and when Biden got out of the motorcade someone called: “Let’s go, Brandon.” They said it twice. https://t.co/5RuLK62O2Q pic.twitter.com/XTWtXE6ASu
— Tara McKelvey (@Tara_Mckelvey) December 15, 2021
Two “Let’s go Brandon”s from the crowd as Biden gets out pic.twitter.com/1syheIGQx0
— Austin Horn (@_AustinHorn) December 15, 2021
After arriving in the state, Biden tweeted, “I’m in Kentucky today to meet with local leaders and to survey the damage from the tornadoes and extreme weather. It will take all of us, working together, to recover and begin rebuilding — and we are committed to providing whatever support is needed for however long it takes.”
I’m in Kentucky today to meet with local leaders and to survey the damage from the tornadoes and extreme weather. It will take all of us, working together, to recover and begin rebuilding — and we are committed to providing whatever support is needed for however long it takes.
— President Biden (@POTUS) December 15, 2021
Earlier in the day, Biden spoke with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and was briefed on the damage while in Mayfield. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was also present.
Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell has blamed the tornado on climate change, saying that storms like this are “going to be our new normal and the effects that we’re seeing from climate change are the crisis of our generation.”
FEMA Administrator on deadly tornadoes: “This is going to be our new normal and the effects that we’re seeing from climate change are the crisis of our generation.” pic.twitter.com/wNPUk0oS4d
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) December 13, 2021
Biden is currently scheduled to speak on Wednesday afternoon.
“We’re gonna build back, I promise” President Biden meeting with community members in Mayfield, Kentucky today, surveying the damage from this weekend’s deadly tornado #Mayfield #KentuckyTornado pic.twitter.com/VCc1glD9o4
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) December 15, 2021