Biden's Contested Naval Academy Claim: A History of Inaccuracies

President Biden has repeatedly claimed that he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy but declined due to the presence of star athletes Roger Staubach and Joe Bellino. However, this narrative conflicts with the actual timeline of events and raises questions about Biden's truthfulness.

President Biden's claim that he was "appointed" to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he purportedly desired to play football, has come under scrutiny for its lack of factual basis. An examination of the timeline and available records reveals discrepancies that cast doubt on the veracity of his account.

Biden's assertion that he declined an appointment due to the presence of Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach and halfback Joe Bellino is flawed. Staubach graduated from the Naval Academy in 1964, while Bellino's last game was in January 1961. Biden himself graduated from high school in 1961, making it impossible for him to have been considering an appointment that allegedly included these players.

Biden's claim that he was a successful wide receiver in high school is supported by records from Archmere Academy. However, his suggestion that he was a "leader" and the "leading scorer" conflicts with available information. According to Yahoo Sports, Biden's team was undefeated in his senior year, but he scored only 10 touchdowns in eight games.

After graduating from high school, Biden attended the University of Delaware, where he reportedly played briefly on the 1961 freshman football team. However, he did not finish the season. In his autobiography, "Promises to Keep," Biden recounted his experiences as a football player, emphasizing his confidence on the field.

The Republican National Committee's rapid response team, RNC Research, has questioned Biden's claim, noting that there is no record of any such appointment. The organization has characterized Biden's narrative as a "lie" that has been repeated multiple times without any evidence to support it.

In his 2022 commencement address to Naval Academy graduates, Biden first claimed to have been accepted to the institution in 1965 but declined to attend. In his 2024 commencement address to West Point graduates, he repeated the story but did not provide a specific date.

Biden has previously emphasized the importance of truthfulness, stating in a 2019 speech that "honesty is the best policy." However, his repeated claims about his Naval Academy appointment, which are contradicted by the available evidence, raise concerns about his adherence to his own moral compass.

President Biden's recounting of his supposed appointment to the Naval Academy, where he allegedly declined to play football due to the presence of star athletes, lacks historical accuracy. The timeline of events and available records contradict his narrative, raising questions about his truthfulness and adherence to the value of honesty.