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Actor Tim Allen—best known for his starring roles on Home Improvement and as the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story series—was dragged after he attempted to mock Democratic President Joe Biden with a cringey 60 Minutes joke.
Shortly after Biden appeared on 60 Minutes for a wide-ranging interview that covered the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and his administration's response to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Allen made a tired joke that has been used time and again to mock public figures.
Allen wrote on Twitter:
"Biden was on 60 minutes. I heard he asked how long the show was."
\u201cBiden was on 60 minutes. I heard he asked how long the show was.\u201d— Tim Allen (@Tim Allen) 1663629770
In making the remark, Allen breathed more life into conspiracies about Biden's mental fitness that have become a favorite talking point in conservative circles.
However, claims that Biden has a cognitive impairment are unfounded despite former Republican President Donald Trump's penchant for referring to him by the pejorative "Sleepy Joe."
In September 2020, ABC News reported the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) withheld intelligence warning of Russian disinformation attacking Biden to promote "allegations about poor mental health."
The intelligence bulletin, titled "Russia Likely to Denigrate Health of US Candidates to Influence 2020 Election," said American intelligence determined Russian operatives are sowing disinformation to convince the American electorate Biden has dementia and would be unfit to serve in office.
But the fact that the bulletin has discredited allegations about Biden's mental health has not stopped conservative media outlets like Fox News from claiming that Biden is very much at the mercy of his handlers despite evidence that Biden is very much in charge.
The internet let out a collective groan and Allen—once a reasonably respected comedian—was dragged for his cheap attempt at humor.
\u201cYou\u2019ve really fallen off, bro. Go back to monkey noises. You nailed that\u201d— Titus (@Titus) 1663692614
\u201cTim grew up in Birmingham, MI. I heard he says he grew up in Detroit.\u201d— La'Ron S. Readus (@La'Ron S. Readus) 1663688404
\u201cWere you once funny? Or just another idiot. (Hint: B)\u201d— ProfBlitzNYC (@ProfBlitzNYC) 1663670562
\u201cIt\u2019s always sad when you realize you\u2019re now WAY funnier than someone you watched/admired growing up..\u201d— \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8Meidas_Brian\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8Meidas_Brian\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1663671629
\u201cTim Allen admitted to watching President Biden on "60 Minutes" just to tweet a joke that's older than he is.\u201d— Craig Rozniecki (@Craig Rozniecki) 1663676001
\u201cI heard Tim Allen fell for a con man wannabe dictator who wanted people to drink bleach. Blocked!\u201d— JJD \ud83d\udd2d\ud83d\uddfd\ud83c\udf0d\ud83d\udcd5\ud83c\udf0a (@JJD \ud83d\udd2d\ud83d\uddfd\ud83c\udf0d\ud83d\udcd5\ud83c\udf0a) 1663679508
\u201cYou were on TV too. Too bad you\u2019re irrelevant now. Much like this joke.\u201d— \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\u2693\ufe0fFRO\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\u270a\ud83c\udffd (@\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\u2693\ufe0fFRO\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\u270a\ud83c\udffd) 1663679639
\u201cTim Allen took the Santa Clause role cause he heard there was free snow. Ya know cause he sold coke in the 80's and did prison time.\u201d— James Tate (@James Tate) 1663722674
\u201cIs this really you or someone getting paid for tweeting?\u201d— Frederick J Rutledge (@Frederick J Rutledge) 1663666500
During his interview with 60 Minutes, Biden declared that the COVID-19 pandemic is "over," noting that the "impact on the psyche of the American people as a consequence of the pandemic is profound." His claim surprised federal health officials.
He also addressed speculation about whether he'll run for another term in 2024, saying that it "remains to be seen" whether he'll make a decision to run after November's midterm elections.
Biden additionally criticized former President Trump, calling him “totally irresponsible" for absconding from the White House with a trove of classified documents that federal authorities later retrieved from Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.
Biden said he has not asked for "specifics" regarding the documents that were taken, saying he does not "want to get myself in the middle of whether or not the Justice Department should move or not move on certain actions they could take."