Biden Jokes On Hot Mic With Influential Black Congressman Clyburn’s Staff: ‘I Work For Jim Too!’

President Joe Biden joked on a hot mic after the State of the Union address with members of influential Rep. James Clyburn’s (D-SC) staff that “I work for Jim, too!”

The president blew away expectations Thursday night with a fiery State of the Union speech that many observers noted showcased the sort of energy and sharpness his team wanted to project and which Republican critics pilloried as overly “political.”

Biden’s speech scored with viewers in a CNN poll as well, 64 percent of whom had a positive view of the speech, with a massive swing in support for Biden’s policies from before to after the speech.

The president, for his part, appeared to relish the interplay that occurred with the Republicans who attempted to heckle him several times during the speech. He gave an impromptu tribute to slain nursing student Laken Riley after a member shouted, “Say her name!”

At other times, he giddily trolled the Republicans when they heckled policies that have bipartisan support.

The address was obviously a hit with the Democrats in the chamber, who applauded frequently and broke into chants of “Four more years!” at every opportunity.

Biden worked the room for over half an hour following the address, as Biden mingled with the congress members and senators who talked policy with him, grabbed selfies, and laughed with the high-spirited president.

Cameras picked up bits of the conversations, including an exchange with Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) in which the president revealed a crack he made to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before a Secret Service agent reminded him about the microphones.

Bennet approached Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to praise the speech, and encourage the president to “keep pushing” on humanitarian aid to Gaza.

“I told Bibi — don’t repeat this,” the president prefaced, and revealed “I said ‘You’re going to have to have a come to Jesus moment!'”

After he was reminded about the cameras, Biden said “I’m on a hot mic here! That was good!”

In another humorous exchange, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) told Biden, “Nobody’s gonna talk about cognitive impairment now!”

“You know, I kinda wish sometimes I was cognitively impaired! Seriously.” the president cracked.

Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnsonn’s staff even sought the president out for a little face time, telling him “It’s a pleasure to meet you!”

Biden chatted and took photographs with them for several minutes.

And as the president made his way out, taking selfies all the while, he posed for members of Clyburn’s staff and joked “I work for Jim too!”

The president and many others credit Clyburn’s support with carrying him to victory in the hotly-contested 2020 Democratic primary race after the Black congressional leader’s endorsement carried Biden to victory in South Carolina after several early defeats.

Watch above via C-SPAN.

Follow Mediaite’s coverage of the State of the Union here.