President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden speak with the NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center on Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and families calling into the NORAD system via teleconference in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus in Washington, Friday, Dec. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (Carolyn Kaster)
NEW YORK CITY (Tribune News Service) — Even tracking Santa Claus on Christmas Eve can turn ugly for President Biden these days.
The commander-in-chief was ambushed during a feel-good holiday event with children when an Oregon parent participating remotely interjected “Let’s go Brandon,” a phrase that is code for an expletive aimed at the president.
Biden affably agreed with the parent, possibly reflecting that he does not know what the phrase means.
“I agree, let’s go Brandon,” Biden said.
The moment quickly went viral as right-wing supporters of former President Donald Trump suggested Biden’s reaction shows he is too old to be president.
Biden supporters called the president’s remark a brushoff of the gibe that reflects his old-school classiness.
The unwelcome political drama unfolded as Biden and First Lady Jill Biden took part in the annual pre-Christmas White House tradition of tracking Santa Claus’s fictional journey from the North Pole to children’s homes across the world.
During the event, the first couple heard from the commander of the U.S. military’s NORAD tracking system, who told them Kris Kringle and the reindeer were already zooming through the sky somewhere over Central Asia.
“Santa’s really moving, Man,” Biden said. “That’s a heavy sleigh.”
Biden chatted with children about Christmas in person, warning them to make sure to be in bed on time so Santa could deliver their presents.
There was no hint at the nastiness to come as the president chatted with the four children. They told him they were hoping to get a piano, Nintendo gadgets and a Barbie doll, among other gifts.
Jill Biden joked that she still has her childhood “now ancient Barbie” doll.
The Oregon father and his children participated in the event via phone.
The president was wrapping up the call by reminding the children to be in bed by 9 p.m. when the father, identified only as Jared, spoke out.
“I hope you have a wonderful Christmas,” Biden told the man.
“Yeah, I hope you guys have a wonderful Christmas as well. Merry Christmas and let’s go Brandon,” he said.
After Biden agreed, the audio abruptly cut off and the Bidens moved on to talk with other families.
Earlier Friday, the first couple made pre-Christmas visits to see a Washington, D.C., Christmas tree and to cheer ailing kids at Children’s National Hospital.
The president, who has battled low polling numbers in recent months, whipped out his cell phone to show one boy a picture of the first family’s new puppy, Commander.
Both Bidens read from a children’s book called “Olaf’s Night Before Christmas,” from the “Frozen” story.
“You’re bringing us some joy,” the president said to the kids.
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