Biden captured on video sharing words of encouragement for girl with stutter
‘I promise you it’ll go away if you just keep at it, okay?’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.President Joe Biden was captured on video sharing words of encouragement with a girl struggling with a stutter.
Mr Biden was speaking to Avery, the niece of Rufus Gifford, who served as the US ambassador to Denmark during the second half of the Obama administration and as Mr Biden’s 2020 deputy campaign manager.
The president has spoken about his own struggle with stuttering on numerous occasions.
“I promise you it’ll go away if you just keep at it, okay?” Mr Biden tells Avery in the video tweeted by Mr Gifford on Sunday. Mr Gifford is waiting to be confirmed as the State Department’s chief of protocol.
“Thank you, Mr President,” Avery told Mr Biden, giving him a hug. Mr Biden then extended an invitation to Avery to come to the White House and see the Oval Office.
“My amazing niece and goddaughter Avery has struggled with a stutter much of her life. She was just told by a guy who knows a little something about it that she can be anything she wants to in this world,” Mr Gifford tweeted. “A day she will never ever forget. Thank you, sir.”
The interaction appeared to have been recorded in Nantucket, Massachusetts, CNN reported. The First Family spent the Thanksgiving holiday on the island. Mr Biden arrived back in Washington, DC on Sunday.
Mr Biden has previously shared how he used to spend hours in front of the mirror reciting Irish poetry, such as the work of William Butler Yeats, to try to work through the issue.
During a 2020 CNN townhall, Mr Biden said he marks his speeches to note where he can take breaths to aid his delivery.
“You know, stuttering, when you think about it, is the only handicap that people still laugh about. That [they] still humiliate people about. And they don’t even mean to,” Mr Biden said.
Mr Biden met 12-year-old Brayden Harrington while campaigning in New Hampshire. After a short conversation at the rope line, Brayden was invited to speak to then-candidate Biden backstage, where he shared his own experience of stuttering and strategies for how to overcome it.
“Don’t let it define you,” Mr Biden said.
Brayden later spoke at the 2020 Democratic National Convention and in connection to Mr Biden’s inauguration in January.
“I’m just a regular kid, and in a short amount of time, Joe Biden made me feel more confident about something that’s bothered me my whole life,” Brayden said during the DNC.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments