The United States is officially in a recession. The past two economic quarters have experienced negative growth, fulfilling the technical definition of what qualifies as a recession. Rather than offer words of encouragement, President Joe Biden (D) has chosen a different route: deny the U.S. is in a recession altogether, and some in the media are doing their best to run with it. Unfortunately for Biden, this comes at the cost of approval ratings.
As reported in The Floridian this past week, Biden brushed off concerns of economic downturn with a curt "that doesn't sound like a recession to me" and simply walked off. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and Representative Daniel Webster (R-FL) were quick to call out Biden. Scott even responded with a meme parodying Biden as Seinfeld character George Constanza and his phrase "it's not a lie if you believe it."
Other Republicans joined in as the week came to a close. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) described attempts to redefine recession that save Biden face as "Orwellian."
The historic definition of a recession is 2 negative quarters of GDP growth.
Today Democrats are trying to play word games to try to dodge the blame for the #BidenRecession. It’s Orwellian! #Verdict pic.twitter.com/oiQSFgzOku
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 28, 2022
"The historic definition of a recession is 2 negative quarters of GDP growth. Today Democrats are trying to play word games to try to dodge the blame for the #BidenRecession. It’s Orwellian! #Verdict," reads Cruz's tweet.
Additionally, Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) mockingly wrote a "Democrat's Dictionary" defining "recession" as "transition" and "inflation" as "transitory."
Democrat's Dictionary:
Recession = Transition
Inflation = Transitory
Mother = Birthing human
Latina = LatinXThe average American is over the silly words games. Let's stop the games and call a spade a spade. https://t.co/WIMR4LA3Qb
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) July 28, 2022
"Democrat's Dictionary: Recession = Transition Inflation = Transitory Mother = Birthing human Latina = LatinX The average American is over the silly words games. Let's stop the games and call a spade a spade," Donalds tweeted.
Furthermore, such denialism has seriously impacted Biden's approval ratings. Already below 50% since August 2021, it has consistently stayed in the high 30's, meaning over 60% of the country disapproves of the President. In fact, as Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) pointed out, a majority of Democrats are voicing a preference in someone other than Biden in 2024.
