Allyson Phillips, the mother of Laken Riley, publicly expressed her condemnation of President Joe Biden’s mispronunciation of her late daughter’s name during the recent State of the Union (SOTU) address.
Laken Riley, the 22-year-old tragically murdered, became an unintended focal point of political contention when President Biden, in an attempt to address the issue of violence, mistakenly referred to her as “Lincoln Riley,” a notable figure in college football, not once, but twice during his speech.
This slip of the tongue did not go unnoticed, particularly by Riley’s grieving mother, Allyson Phillips, who took to social media to voice her frustration and dismay.
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Responding to a Facebook comment, Phillips did not mince words, stating, “Biden does not even KNOW my child’s name – it’s pathetic! If you are going to say her name (even when forced to do so) at least say the right name!”
Laken Riley’s mom, Allyson Phillips, had this to say about Biden saying the wrong name during the #SOTU last night. pic.twitter.com/DXpscIHvLk
— Olivia Rondeau 🇺🇸 (@rondeaulivia) March 8, 2024
The controversy swiftly escalated as supporters and critics joined the conversation online. Many accused the President of attempting to minimize the gravity of Riley’s murder by erroneously invoking the name of his deceased son, Beau Biden, and misidentifying Riley.
Others echoed Phillips’ sentiments, labeling the mistake as “pathetic” and “disgraceful” and calling into question the President’s sincerity and competence.
Allyson Phillips (Laken Riley’s mother), responding to Biden’s SOTU on facebook. #LakenRileySayHerName pic.twitter.com/fnsZnhMS1u
— Jenna Fredo (@LynkLuv) March 8, 2024
Riley’s life was tragically cut short when her body was discovered on the University of Georgia campus on February 22, following her departure from home for a run. She had sustained fatal blunt force trauma to the head, a wound allegedly delivered by Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant. Investigators have described the incident as a ‘crime of opportunity.’
Biden and his Democrat allies have referred to the Senate immigration bill that would normalize 5,000 illegal alien entries every single day, provide a path to citizenship for millions of illegals and provide minimal funds to securing the border as a “border security bill.”
After Biden referred to the bill as the “toughest set of border security reforms we’ve ever seen,” the president was interrupted by House Republicans who rejected his framing of the bill.
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-GA) could be heard shouting “say her name,” at which point Biden repeated a common campaign talking point where he blames the border crisis on Republicans. “Oh, you don’t think so? Oh, you don’t like that bill, huh? That conservatives got together and said it was a good bill? I’ll be darned. That’s amazing,” Biden said.
As the shouting match continued, the president reached into his pocket and retrieved the Laken Riley button that was given to him by Rep. Greene (R-GA). Upon retrieving the button, Biden mispronounced the slain college student’s name, referring to her as “Lincoln Riley.”
“Lincoln Riley. An innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal,” Biden said while holding up the button. “. That’s right. But how many of thousands of people being killed by illegals?” he continued.
“To her parents I say, my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself, I understand.” Biden then attempted to sell the amnesty bill as a major win for border security, though House Republicans were not buying it. The president was then met with boos and chants of “build the wall.”