Joe Biden Accidentally Told People to Visit 'Joe 30330.' The Internet Responded Accordingly
All eyes were on frontrunner Joe Biden ahead of Wednesday’s Democratic primary debate. And just before the broadcast ended, the former Vice President offered up some campaign information that was accidentally — to use his words — a “bunch of malarkey.”
As Biden delivered his closing statement, he declared, “If you agree with me, go to Joe 3-0-3-3-0 and help me in this fight.” The last candidate to speak, it was essentially the final message of the second round of debates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
While there certainly is a Joe Biden campaign website, it’s not Joe30330.com. (His official website is actually just JoeBiden.com). 30330 is, however, the text prompt for his campaign.
TIME sent a text to the number 3-0-3-3-0 and received a typical promotional campaign message in return. “Joe was AMAZING at the debate,” it said. “Now, Donald Trump is going to aim all his resources at defeating us. So we are counting on a MASSIVE rush of donations to elect Joe and take down Trump.”
Biden, 76, also quickly promoted the correct information on his social media after the debate.
I just got off the stage where I shared my bold vision for our future built on uniting our country. Because I know if we work together, there’s nothing we can’t do.
Let's keep our momentum going. If you liked what you heard tonight, text JOE to 30330 and let's get to work. pic.twitter.com/EDIKTYiJB1— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 1, 2019
As expected, what began as general confusion on the internet as people searched for the website eventually turned to comedy on Twitter.
me trying to go to JOE 30330 pic.twitter.com/Xa8Bf1KWM9
— Jesse Lehrich (@JesseLehrich) August 1, 2019
BRB registering Joe 30330 dot com
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) August 1, 2019
Everyone: @JoeBiden needs to appear less old in this debate.
Joe: Go to Joe30330#DemDebates pic.twitter.com/y5zlu63gCb— Briana Escamilla (@escamillabriana) August 1, 2019
Interestingly 30330 is an Atlanta zip code.
Joe 90210 would've been catchier.
#DemDebate— Julie Cohen (@FilmmakerJulie) August 1, 2019
Others were more generous in response to Biden’s flub, taking to Twitter to defend the simple mistake.
Biden meant to say text Joe to 30330. It was a trivial mistake and not that complicated.
— Mindy Finn (@mindyfinn) August 1, 2019
Sharing comedian Trevor Noah’s tweet, which advertised debate coverage at “30330 pm,” Biden’s team eventually got in on the joke, too. “We’ll tune in, but make sure you text JOE to 30330,” the @TeamJoe account said.
We'll tune in, but make sure you text JOE to 30330 😎 https://t.co/IWe7uONuje
— Team Joe (@TeamJoe) August 1, 2019
The mix-up also prompted clever internet users to buy previously open domain names involving ‘Joe’ and some combination of the numbers he called out. As of Wednesday night, joe33030.com now redirects to Biden’s actual campaign site. But unfortunately for his campaign, joe30330.com redirects to a mock campaign website that claims to be paid for by “Josh for America Excretionary Committee.”
Joe3030.com will send you to fellow Democratic contender Pete Buttigieg’s campaign website.
That viral closing statement moment wasn’t Biden’s only verbal flub of the night. Earlier in the debate, he mistakenly called Senator Cory Booker “president,” before correcting himself: “Excuse me, the future president,” he said.
He also received some blowback for calling criticism of Obamacare “a bunch of malarkey.”
Millennials are all googling "malarkey" rn.
— Jennifer Mendelsohn 🇺🇸 (@CleverTitleTK) August 1, 2019
Biden brings out the malarkey card. Paul Ryan just fainted and doesn't know why.#CNNDebate
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) August 1, 2019