Joe Biden incorrectly described himself as the father of a man who "lost his life in Iraq" at a speech in Colorado on Wednesday.
Speaking near the town of Vail, Biden designated Camp Hale, a 436-square-mile site where the 10th Mountain Division were trained during World War II, as a national monument.
Biden saluted the bravery of the 10th Mountain Division in battle in Italy, before claiming he lost a son in Iraq.
The president said: "Just imagine, I mean it sincerely, I say this as a father of a man who won the Bronze Star, the conspicuous service medal, and lost his life in Iraq. Imagine the courage, the daring, and the genuine sacrifice—genuine sacrifice they all made."
A clip of Biden's comments was posted on Twitter by the Washington Examiner, receiving more than 600,000 views.
Beau Biden, the president's eldest son, did serve in Iraq with the Delaware Army National Guard from 2008-2009, where he was awarded the Bronze Star for his service.
Following his death in 2015, Beau Biden was posthumously given the Delaware Conspicuous Service Cross, presented for "heroism, meritorious service and outstanding achievement."
However, Beau Biden died of brain cancer on May 30, 2015, at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, rather than in Iraq.
The then-vice president's son, who also served as Delaware attorney general, was 46 when he died.
In 2016, Joe Biden suggested Beau Biden's cancer could have been linked to toxic burn pits he was exposed to during military service in Iraq, and his Colorado remark may have been a reference to this.
According to The New York Times, Biden, speaking in a Congressional conference room, said he was "stunned" after reading a chapter about his son's death in Joseph Hickman's book The Burn Pits: The Poisoning of America's Soldiers.
The future president reportedly said: "Guys, I'm going to be the biggest pain in your neck as long as I live, until we figure out about these burn pits."
The U.S. military used burn pits, where waste is piled together then burned, in Iraq and Afghanistan. Material burned included plastics, rubber and batteries, which could produce toxic smoke.
According to the Department of Defense, nearly 3.5 million American service men and women could have been exposed to dangerous levels of toxins from the pits.
In March, Biden discussed burn pits as part of his annual State of the Union address.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is currently investigating possible links between burn pits and a number of medical conditions, including cancer.
In August, the bipartisan Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022, which boosts medical assistance for victims of burn pits, was signed into law.
On Tuesday, Biden told CNN's Jake Tapper that, in a second presidential contest, "I believe I can beat Donald Trump again."
At one point during the interview, Biden dropped his notes, a clip of which went viral on social media.
The White House has been contacted for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
James Bickerton is a Newsweek U.S. News reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is covering U.S. politics and world ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
