Georgia
'Lincoln Riley': Biden ridiculed for appearing to flub slain Georgia student's name
President Biden was ridiculed Thursday following the State of the Union after he appeared to slip up while speaking the name of the slain Georgia student who was allegedly murdered by a Venezuelan illegal immigrant who had come across the Mexican border.
As Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. — wearing a red MAGA hat — shouted “say her name” toward the president, Biden responded by lamenting the young woman’s death but appeared to refer to her as “Lincoln Riley” — who is the coach of the University of Southern California Trojans football team.
“It’s not about him. It’s not about me. I’d be a winner… ” Biden said, referring to former President Trump’s alleged intervention in a failed bipartisan border bill before trailing off as Greene appeared to shout “say Laken Riley — say her name.”
As boos were heard from the floor, Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, gestured to Greene as Biden reached below his dais and presented a button bearing Riley’s name:
‘COLD-HEART’ BIDEN TO BLAME FOR GA STUDENT’S DEATH, TEXAS OFFICIAL SAYS
“Lincoln — Lincoln Riley,” Biden appeared to say. “An innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. That’s right, but how many of the thousands of people being killed by legals — to her parents?”
Biden added that his heart goes out to her parents as he also lost his son, Beau, several years ago.
Moments after the apparent gaffe, X — formerly Twitter — lit up with criticism, including from OutKick founder Clay Travis, who decried Biden for the mix-up.
“Joe Biden just confused Laken Riley, a college student killed by an illegal immigrant, with USC football coach Lincoln Riley. This just happened. The man’s brain is mush. Incredibly disrespectful,” Travis said.
Media Research Center also caught the mistake, saying that Biden finally said Laken Riley’s name:
“Well kinda he actually says ‘Lincoln Riley,’” the outlet’s X feed said.
DR PHIL CALLS FOR ACTION ‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’ WITH CRIME WAVE CAUSED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Southern California coach Lincoln Riley watches during the second half of the team’s NCAA college football game against UCLA, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Other X users mocked Biden by posting photos of Coach Riley with the caption “Say His Name.”
Actor James Woods, a noted conservative in Hollywood, posted: “‘Lincoln’ Riley? Just appalling.”
The Heritage Foundation’s account commented: “It’s Laken Riley, Mr. President, and she would be alive if it weren’t for your open border policies.”
“Outnumbered” panelist Kayleigh McEnany added she found the moment “completely insensitive.”
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Frequent Fox News guest and former Treasury official Monica Crowley added that Biden’s comment was more insulting than if he had neglected to attempt to invoke Laken Riley at all.
On Fox News’ special coverage of the State of the Union, chief political anchor Bret Baier indicated it indeed sounded like Biden uttered the coach’s name:
“Listen really closely, he says ‘Lincoln Riley’ — who happens to be the USC football head coach.”
“The Five” host Dana Perino added that Biden, however, appeared prepared for potentially being heckled over Laken Riley’s murder, and “got the name a little bit wrong,” but keyed in instead to his succeeding line, the syntax of which sounded a “little bit strange.”
On “Hannity,” House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, also keyed in: “It is Laken Riley, not Lincoln,” he said. “And we should remember that because it’s [Biden’s] policies that led to this tragedy that happened in Georgia to this young lady and what her family is now having to deal with… “
Georgia
Brother of Smurf Millender commits to Georgia basketball
It’s a big week for Georgia basketball and the Millender family.
Two days after point guard Smurf Millender announced he was returning to the Bulldogs, his brother Kemauri committed to Georgia, he told the Athletic on April 2.
Kemauri Millender is a 6-foot-guard who averaged 9.5 points and 1.9 assists as a redshirt sophomore at New Mexico Junior College where he started 34 games. He shot 32.4% from 3-point range, making 46,for a team that went 27-7.
Kemauri Millender was a top 100 honorable mention selection by JucoRecruiting.com and All-Region V.
He averaged 16.1 points and 3.3 assists in the 2024-2025 season at Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas.
Smurf Millender was third on the Bulldogs in scoring this past season at 12.0 points per game and led the team with 4.1 assists per game. He started down the stretch after coming off the bench earlier in the season.
Smurf and Kemauri played together at Clear Brook High in the Houston area.
Georgia
GOP Senate candidates campaign in Coastal Georgia
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — Three Republican candidates and one write-in candidate in Georgia’s U.S. senate race made a stop in Coastal Georgia on Wednesday, campaigning to Georgia voters ahead of the primary.
The Chatham Area Republican Women hosted a luncheon featuring U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter (R-1) Mike Collins (R-10), along with Brigadier General Jonathan McColumn and write-in candidate Rev. Dr. Christina Clements.
Rep. Buddy Carter
Carter opened the event by highlighting his record in Congress, pointing to his role in passing The Working Families Tax Cut Act and efforts to lower healthcare and prescription drugs costs.
“I will never embarrass you,” said Carter. “I haven’t embarrassed you in the 26 years I’ve been in public service.”
He also addressed the partial government shutdown, emphasizing national security concerns.
“Right now, more than ever, I would submit to you that we need funding for Department of Homeland Security,” said Carter. “We’re involved in a conflict in Iran right now. Our terror alert is up.”
Rep. Mike Collins
Collin’s focused on infrastructure improvements across the Coastal Empire, including funding tied to Georgia’s ports.
“That port hadn’t been dredged fully since 2015,” said Collins. “Then I came up here to Savannah, and it wasn’t three weeks later that the Army Corps changed their mind. And we got 35 million for Brunswick Port, and we got the money to study the widening of the Savannah port. That’s how you deliver for the state of Georgia.”
He also highlighted his support for the Laken Riley Act, opposition to defunding the police and plans to support veterans if elected.
“Our veterans out there need help,” said Collins. “We’ve got homeless vets living under bridges. And here we have an administration that will hold and transport, feed and housing these illegals.”
Christina Clement
Clement, President of Black USA and President of the State of Loc Nation Global Public Benefit Corporation, centered her remarks on economic stability, promoting what she called the “Black Dollar Initiative.”
“We should at least have the basics,” said Clements. “This was a summary of what the majority of citizens who felt unrepresented shared with me while listening to their concerns.”
Jonathan McColumn
McColumn pushed his military leadership experience, emphasizing the importance of that experience for Georgia.
“Fort Stewart, Army Airfield, who’s going to negotiate for them because you don’t have anyone right now in the senate who understands this. We need someone who understands the infrastructure, the priorities, the missions.”
He tied that experience to his stance on federal leadership and the ongoing shutdown.
“If we had an executive leader that was a senator today, the Homeland Security would have been funded,” said McColumn. “When you haven’t led anything or you haven’t been responsible for anybody, then you can’t understand that. When you make $187,000 a year, people working for TSA making approximately $50,000 a year, you can’t see that you’re harming those people. That’s a failure of leadership.”
The Georgia Primary race is set for May 19, when voters decide who will face incumbent Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) in the general election.
Georgia
Thunderstorms in Starkville weather forecast for Mississippi State baseball vs Georgia series
STARKVILLE — Thunderstorms could possibly impact Mississippi State baseball’s series against Georgia at Dudy Noble Field.
According to AccuWeather, there is a 55% chance of thunderstorms on April 2, an 88% chance on April 3 and 90% chance on April 4.
The three-game series between No. 4 MSU (25-4, 7-2 SEC) and No. 5 Georgia (24-6, 7-2) starts April 2 (6 p.m., SEC Network+). The other start times are 6 p.m. on April 3 and 1 p.m. on April 4.
The hourly forecast on AccuWeather says there is a 17% chance of rain at first pitch on April 2 with a high of 81 degrees. The chance of precipitation increases to 54% at 8 p.m. Wind could also be a factor with gusts at 20 mph.
The April 3 hourly forecast projects a 49% chance of rain at first pitch with a high of 79 degrees and 20 mph winds.
Mississippi State enters the series on a nine-game winning streak. It’s also won 20 consecutive home games dating back to last season.
Georgia swept South Carolina in its last SEC series and has also won series against Texas A&M and Tennessee. It leads the country with 87 home runs.
Mississippi State baseball schedule vs Georgia
- Thursday, April 2: 6 p.m. (SEC Network+)
- Friday, April 3: 6 p.m. (SEC Network+)
- Saturday, April 4: 1 p.m. (SEC Network+)
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
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