Biden Met with Family of Late Rep. Walorski After Mistakenly Calling on Her at Event: 'No Hard Feelings'

Mar. 15, 2025

Jackie Walorski.

PresidentJoe Bidenmet with the family of Rep.Jackie Walorski after a recent speaking gaffe called his relationship to the late representative into question.

While delivering opening remarks at theWhite House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Healthon Sept. 28, Biden mistakenly called out for Walorski, an Indiana Republican who co-sponsored a bill to fund the conference before her death.

“Jackie, are you here? Where’s Jackie?” he asked, looking out into the audience of approximately 500 people. “She was going to be here.”

Walorski died on Aug. 3 when her car crashed near Nappanee, Indiana. Walorski’s communications director, 28-year-old Emma Thomson, and St. Joseph County Republican Party Chair Zachery Potts, 27, also died in the head-on collision, as did the driver of the other vehicle.

Tom Williams/getty

Two days after the gaffe, Biden met with the Walorski family in the Oval Office to apologize,The New York Postreported. The meeting — which included Walorski’s mother, Martha Walorski; brother Keith Walorski; and husband, Dean Swihart — lasted about a half-hour, according to the outlet.

“He did apologize for the ‘Where’s Jackie?’ comment and our family assured him we have no hard feelings,” Keith told thePost. “We forgive him for his gaffe.”

As for Walorski’s mother, “She said, ‘Well, Mr. President, we can tell you where Jackie is. She’s in heaven with Jesus,'” Keith recalled.

Last week, shortly after the president misspoke, Keithshared with thePostthat Biden called family members in August when Walorski was killed and “was very sincere” because “he knows all about” grief.

“All I’m saying right now about the president is bless his heart for trying,” Keith said. “Yeah, it was a big mess-up today. Inexcusable? No. Unforgivable? No. I’m not gonna hold it against him. I just feel sorry for him.”

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The White House did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for comment about the private meeting.

source: people.com