President Joe Biden got blasted online for checking in with “Sesame Street” muppet Elmo in a bizarre social media exchange, rather than using the tweet to address any of the issues currently plaguing the nation.
A tweet from the muppet’s X, formerly Twitter, account on Monday, inquiring about how his 520,000 followers’ Monday was going prompted the discussion.
“Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” Elmo asked.
The muppet’s innocent question spurred a flurry of increasingly doom-filled responses about the state of the world.
Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?
— Elmo (@elmo) January 29, 2024
“Every morning, I cannot wait to go back to sleep. Every Monday, I cannot wait for Friday to come. Every single day and every single week for life,” someone replied despondently.
“Well 2024 feels like 2020 plus 4 so…” another added.
“The world is burning around us, Elmo,” one person responded.
“Oscar was right,” a pessimist said in reference to the grouchy, garbage can dwelling “Sesame Street” muppet.
Many of the glum American’s who responded to the tweet blamed the Biden administration for their current state of ennui.
“3 Americans were bombed and killed this weekend. Dozens more injured,” someone pointed out.
“Weeks before 2 soldiers drowned at Sea for Biden’s newest war in Middle East. So we are having a sh*tty 3 years. Thanks for asking Elmo.”
“Elmo, my man, you been to the grocery store lately? I don’t know if you drive, but you filled up a gas tank?” One social media user asked.
“Stop gas lighting us,” they added. “You know it’s real out here.”
“Elmo, we’re about to kick off WW3 and many of the celebrities you hang out with have ties to pedophiles,” another stated. “You tell me. how’re we doing?”
Elmo was clearly dismayed by all the pessimistic replies and made a follow up post about “emotional well being.”
“Wow! Elmo is glad he asked! Elmo learned that it is important to ask a friend how they are doing,” the character’s account posted on Tuesday.
“Elmo will check in again soon, friends!” The muppet added. “Elmo loves you.”
I know how hard it is some days to sweep the clouds away and get to sunnier days.
Our friend Elmo is right: We have to be there for each other, offer our help to a neighbor in need, and above all else, ask for help when we need it.
Even though it's hard, you're never alone. https://t.co/ffMJekbowo
— President Biden (@POTUS) January 31, 2024
Biden’s PR team decided to respond, likely after noticing that many of Elmo’s followers’ despondent replies blamed the president for their woes.
“I know how hard it is some days to sweep the clouds away and get to sunnier days,” Biden replied referencing a “Sesame Street” phrase.
“Our friend Elmo is right: We have to be there for each other, offer our help to a neighbor in need, and above all else, ask for help when we need it. Even though it’s hard, you’re never alone.”
Social media users didn’t take kindly to the President responding to a fictional character amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
“Country wrapped in another foreign broader conflict with Iran, who backed proxies murdering US troops,” replied conservative commentator Stephen Miller. “Current President — ‘What the puppet said.”
“This is worse than anything Donald Trump ever tweeted,” he wrote in a follow-up post.
“What Joe Biden really needs to do is stop talking to Sesame Street characters and close the US border,” someone scolded.
“Our country needs to take care of itself first, otherwise we’ll never be able to help our neighbor. Biden is letting the United States be destroyed. This isn’t make believe.”
“America is struggling, Elmo. We need Trump back!” Brigitte Gabriel commented.
“Maybe the Democrats would be better off nominating Elmo instead of you?” Roger Stone snarked at Biden.
Others were focused on how Biden’s interaction with Elmo aligned with his campaign’s “Anti-Trump Battle Plan,” which the New York Times revealed.
According to the Monday report, one of part of the multi-pronged plan includes getting endorsements from social media influencers and celebrities.
“One puppet endorsing another puppet,” comedian Tim Young replied.
“All this time we were focused on taylor swift… but the psy-op… it was elmo the whole time,” Ashley St. Clair posted.
“Remember, folks, a vote for me is a vote for Taylor Swift and Elmo,” a Biden parody account tweeted.