Biden Begins 9/11 Commemoration Speech with a Joke

U.S. President Joe Biden opened his speech for the 9/11 commemoration with a joke. Biden made his remarks in Alaska, where he arrived after participating in the G20 summit and visiting Vietnam. He was welcomed by Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. Biden said, "The governor and I have something in common: we're both from Scranton, Pennsylvania. I want him to play on my team when I play ball. I could be among the best players in the country if he were in front of me." Biden laughed midway through his speech. The first American president broke from the tradition of commemorating the 9/11 disaster, as it has been customary for the past 22 years for the president to spend the day at the attack site, where the memorial is located. Biden's absence has caused anger and criticism among some victim families, with some describing it as the president's disrespect for the commemoration, while others saw it as "the unfortunate reality" of the country's climate.