There used to be an old ad slogan that said, “Is it real or is it Memorex?” People began using that phrase to describe disbelief in whether what they’re seeing is the genuine article or a substitute.
That phrase concerning some of President Joe Biden’s appearances now has an answer concerning the confusion as to whether he broadcasts certain meetings or events from the actual White House or not.
Biden apparently uses a virtual set that makes it look like he’s in the White House.
Fox News reported that the “video set, which was constructed across from the White House in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, is used by Biden for video conferences and events broadcast online.”
People on social media took note of Biden’s set after they noticed that the window the president was sitting in front of showed the Rose Garden in full bloom, and it’s fall season, so that didn’t seem to add up.
Pictures began surfacing on Twitter of the set in use, with users wondering why he needed the set in the first place instead of simply using the White House. Biden even tweeted a picture of the set in question, himself. (Note: Biden even used the set when he received his COVID-19 booster shot):
Why does Joe Biden feel the need to use a Fake White House set across the street from the actual White House? pic.twitter.com/5p7TLwoPmw
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) October 6, 2021
Why did the White House build a literal game show set complete with fake windows for Joe Biden??? So weird. pic.twitter.com/9Ud42AbEqQ
— Abigail Marone 🇺🇸 (@abigailmarone) October 6, 2021
Remember the Trump green screen scandal? Now Biden gives speeches on a set made of Legos and nobody is remotely curious.
— David Marcus (@BlueBoxDave) October 6, 2021
Truman Show Presidency https://t.co/n6NoN53KWO
— Jack Posobiec ✝️ (@JackPosobiec) October 6, 2021
This afternoon, I held a meeting with business leaders on the need to raise the debt ceiling. We discussed the urgency of this moment and the devastating impact it could have on Americans’ pocketbooks. pic.twitter.com/IT6YlFDNro
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 6, 2021
As Fox News pointed out, Stephen Miller, who was a senior adviser to former President Donald Trump explained what he thinks is the reason for the set.
The reason Biden uses this bizarre virtual set for televised meetings—and not an actual room like East Room, Cabinet, Oval, Roosevelt, Sit Room, etc.—is because it allows him to read a script directly from a face-on monitor (& w/out teleprompter glass that can be seen on camera). https://t.co/Uc4Ly9kL7T
— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) October 6, 2021
So to reference the question of, “Is it real or is it Memorex,” it seems as though in some instances Biden’s supposed appearances in the White House are indeed “Memorex.”