It is difficult to vilify President Joe Biden. His grandfatherly persona, straightforward speaking style, and rhetoric of compassion and unity make it challenging for Republicans to depict him as corrupt or intimidating—at least, beyond those deeply entrenched in the alternative reality of MAGA politics.
However, as the political discourse evolves, more Republicans are resorting to the accusation that Biden is guilty of hypocrisy. The charge suggests that his promises of unity and healing were mere “worthless bromides,” as South Carolina Senator Tim Scott declared in his response to Biden’s speech to a joint session of Congress.
Biden has repeatedly stated his commitment to governing for all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. Yet, Scott and other critics claim that, just three months into his presidency, Biden’s actions are achieving the opposite—widening divisions rather than bridging them. Having failed to paint Biden as a dangerous radical, his detractors have instead pivoted to calling him a hypocrite.
The Partisan Politics of Hypocrisy
If Biden genuinely believes in bipartisan cooperation as a means of crafting better, more durable policies, then his administration’s response should be to welcome the challenge. His efforts to temper political rhetoric—by avoiding name-calling, inflammatory remarks, and social media outbursts—are a necessary step toward healing a nation fatigued by the Trump era’s tumultuous discourse.
Rather than concern himself with accusations of hypocrisy, Biden must prioritise meaningful progress. The Republican Party, long accused of political opportunism, has little standing to make such allegations. After all, hypocrisy has become an enduring feature of modern politics—an empty rhetorical tool used to feign moral outrage without addressing substantive issues.
| Common Examples of Political Hypocrisy | Key Figures |
|---|---|
| Advocating ‘family values’ but overlooking moral failures | Many Trump supporters |
| Opposing executive actions under Democrats but supporting them under Republicans | Senate Republicans |
| Criticising budget deficits while increasing them in office | Various administrations |
| Calling for unity while refusing bipartisan cooperation | Both parties at different times |
Voters despise hypocrisy because it embodies deceit, arrogance, and self-righteousness. Research from Yale University suggests that what people truly resent about hypocrites is the implied sense of moral superiority, rather than the contradiction itself. No one enjoys being lectured or judged—especially by politicians whose own actions contradict their words.
The Media’s Role in Exposing Hypocrisy
The media finds hypocrisy particularly triggering, as it is a form of deception, and journalists have a deep-seated aversion to dishonesty. Yet, beyond exposing inconsistencies, hypocrisy provides an effortless way to judge public figures without delving into policy specifics. People are often more outraged by a leader’s perceived insincerity than by their actual decisions.
The Political Reality
The most secure political strategy might be to abandon all pretences of principle and embrace self-interest. Some might argue that figures like Senator Mitch McConnell have done precisely this—and have been remarkably successful.
However, hypocrisy remains an unavoidable force in politics. Consider the self-described “family values” voters who overlooked Trump’s personal scandals or the Democrats who initially opposed certain procedural manoeuvres only to embrace them when politically convenient.
Ultimately, political allegiance often dictates selective outrage. People rationalise actions from their own party while condemning identical behaviour from opponents. This tendency makes hypocrisy a powerful yet deeply subjective accusation.