As soon as C-SPAN's cameras caught President Joe Biden laughing uncontrollably Saturday night at comic Trevor Noah’s jokes about the economic hurt Americans are feeling, tweets poured out that it looked like a tailor-made GOP TV ad.
Two days later, Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson has made that ad.
“The same liberal Democrats and media elite who falsely attack Senator Johnson for exposing the truth are laughing it up in Washington while America is dangerously off track,” the ad says. “It’s not funny.”
The video shows Biden laughing at Noah’s joke made during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, which brings together media, political, lobbying, and Hollywood elites.
Biden laughed and clapped as Noah said, “Ever since you've come into office, things are really looking up. You know, gas is up, rent is up, food is up. Everything. No, it really has been a tough first year for you, Mr. President.”
“Since you’ve come into office, things are really looking up. Gas is up, rent is up, food is up! Everything!”
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 1, 2022
BIDEN: *laughs* pic.twitter.com/Chtdwotnrs
Ron Bonjean, a Washington communications executive who worked with Cabinet members and House and Senate leaders, told Secrets, “Biden attending the White House Correspondents' Association dinner was not the wisest idea from a politically strategic point of view. His participation can easily be used by Republicans as 'Let them eat cake' campaign fodder when voters are anxious about rising costs hitting their family budgets."
The Johnson campaign said in releasing the ad, “America is dangerously off track. Record high gas prices. The worst inflation in 40 years. A violent crime wave. Chaos at the border. It's not funny. Senator Ron Johnson is fighting to get inflation under control. Ron Johnson is fighting for law and order. Ron Johnson is fighting for freedom and for us.”
The ad is meant to bolster the two-term senator’s reelection campaign.