FALSEHOOD #23: Biden falsely claimed that he came out against the Iraq war at the beginning.

In reference to the Iraq war, he said, “Immediately, the moment it started, I came out against the war at that moment.”

Biden made this false claim on September 3, 2019, during a NPR interview.

EXPLANATION: This is false. Public records show that Joe Biden supported the war in Iraq from the very beginning. On October 2002, he voted in favor of a resolution that authorized the use of force against Iraq.

On March 19, 2003, during a CNN interview, Biden, in reference to the President Bush and the Iraq war, said, “I support the president. I support the troops. We should make no distinction. We should have one voice going out to the whole world that we’re together. There’s plenty to criticize this president for. Let’s get this war done.”

On March 27, 2003, he said, “God willing, this war will continue to go well… casualties on all sides will be few… and victory will be swift… And working with the international community, we will put Iraq on the path to a pluralistic and democratic society.”

In July 2003, In reference to the Iraq war, he was quoted saying, “Nine months ago, I voted with my colleagues to give the president of the United States of America the authority to use force, and I would vote that way again today.”

There is no record of Biden opposing the war at the beginning.

SOURCES

Dale, D. (2020, January 6). Fact check: Biden again dishonestly suggests he opposed the Iraq War from the beginning | CNN politics. CNN. Retrieved December 27, 2022, from https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/06/politics/fact-check-biden-iraq-war-repeat-iowa/index.html

Kessler, G. (2019, September 9). Analysis | Biden’s claim that he opposed the Iraq War the ‘moment it started’. The Washington Post. Retrieved December 27, 2022, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/09/bidens-claim-that-he-opposed-iraq-war-moment-it-started/

Valverde, M. (2019, September 5). Joe Biden falsely claims that he immediately opposed Iraq War. Politifact. Retrieved December 27, 2022, from https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/sep/05/joe-biden/oe-biden-falsely-claims-he-immediately-opposed-ira/