The Oregon father who goaded President Biden into saying “Let’s go, Brandon” now says he’s the subject of threats and harassment by the commander in chief’s supporters.
Jared Schmeck, 35 and a father of four, made headlines over the weekend for calling into the White House’s annual Christmas Eve NORAD Santa-tracking event. After wishing Mr. Biden and first lady Jill Biden well, Mr. Schmeck ended his call by saying “Let’s go, Brandon” — which the president repeated, to the surprise of many.
Mr. Schmeck, who identifies as a “free-thinking American and follower of Jesus Christ,” said he meant no harm in uttering the phrase.
“I understand there is a vulgar meaning to ‘Let’s go, Brandon,’ but I’m not that simple-minded, no matter how I feel about him,” Mr. Schmeck told The Oregonian newspaper. “There’s no animosity or anything like that. It was merely just an innocent jest to also express my God-given right to express my frustrations in a joking manner.”
After media outlets began reporting on his interaction with the president, Mr. Schmeck says he’s been the victim of harassing and threatening phone calls.
“Now, I am being attacked for utilizing my freedom of speech,” he said.
The White House did not immediately return requests for comment.
“Let’s go, Brandon” has exploded as crafty invective against Mr. Biden among Republicans and supporters of former President Donald Trump.
The cheeky phrase first entered the zeitgeist in October during an NBC interview with NASCAR driver Brandon Brown after he won the Sparks 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.
Sound difficulties dominated the interview as hundreds of attendees shouted, “F—- Joe Biden” from the stands. NBC reporter Kelli Stavast, who conducted the interview, told Mr. Brown and the TV audience that the attendees were chanting “Let’s go, Brandon.”
Republicans say the episode and the chant it spurred perfectly sum up long-ranging critics of the mainstream media from conservative circles.
“The clip is surreal,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican. “Listening to the NBC reporter say, ‘Look, they’re chanting ’Let’s go, Brandon.’ It captures everything about fake news all at once.”
Mr. Schmeck, who does not openly identify as a supporter of former President Donald Trump, says he holds no animosity towards Mr. Biden.
“At the end of the day, I have nothing against Mr. Biden, but I am frustrated because I think he can be doing a better job,” he said. “I mean no disrespect to him.”
Despite claims of meaning no harm, Mr. Schmeck continues to be the target of liberals eager to paint him and the GOP as “indecent” to the “core.”
“Don’t waste your time on the pathetic dad who humiliated his family to say F-U to the president on Christmas Eve,” said Rep. Eric Swalwell, California Democrat. “He’s irrelevant. Spend your time asking why Republican leaders are celebrating him. This isn’t my parents’ Republican Party. This new crew is indecent to their core.”
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