“From This House to the White House” President Biden Revisits Scranton Childhood Home Amid Criticism
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President Joe Biden recently returned to his childhood home in Scranton, Pennsylvania, an experience he described as profoundly sentimental and reflective of his journey to the presidency. However, his visit was met with harsh criticism from supporters of Donald Trump, who took to social media to express their discontent, as reported by People.
Biden shared a video of the visit on X, commenting, “I got to visit my childhood home in Scranton for the first time since I became president. I’ll never forget where I came from.” This post quickly became a target for Trump supporters who ridiculed his statement. One user suggested, “You should do America a favor and stay there,” while another said, “You can just stay there until Donald Trump takes office next January. It’ll do less damage.”
Further criticism was not shy of harshness, with one Pennsylvanian stating, “As a Pennsylvanian, we would love to forget where you came from. You do not represent our values. We are actively registering voters in Pennsylvania that are going to vote against you. If anyone needs help registering to vote, please message me.” Another user mocked Biden’s storytelling, comparing his speeches to a “choose your own adventure” book, implying inconsistency and confusion in his narratives.
Amid the backdrop of this online backlash, Biden’s video also touched on the core values instilled in him during his upbringing in a middle-class family. He recounted, “For the first time since I became president, I got to visit the house in Scranton, PA, where I lived as a kid. The stories I heard around this kitchen table, shaped who I am as a person and as president.”
In the video, he shared more about his family dynamics, saying, “Here in this kitchen, my mom taught me to stand up for myself and others and to treat everyone with dignity and respect.” He also revealed a heartfelt memory from Election Day 2020, when he was invited to sign the wall of his former home, where he wrote, “From this house to the White House, with the grace of God.”
Despite the criticism, Biden’s visit to Scranton was a poignant reminder of his roots. According to The Daily Mail, Biden, along with his siblings, lived with his maternal grandparents in this middle-class home during times of financial hardship faced by his father, reflecting a stark contrast to the often luxurious upbringings of many of his predecessors. As the political climate remains charged, Biden’s connection to his past brings a human element to the forefront of his presidency.
