WATCH: Twitter frenzy after Joe Biden says ‘Inshallah’ in TV debate
Donald Trump and Joe Biden during presidential debate. PHOTO: REUTERS
It is commonplace for nominees vying for the US presidency to try to reach out to voters – Joe Biden also did so by sarcastically calling out Donald Trump on live television over the release of his tax returns by saying Inshallah (God willing) in Arabic.
The entire country’s eyes were on the rivals who faced off in the first debate. His comments were seen by many as an attempt to woo Muslim voters in the country.
Inshallah is also used sarcastically in the Muslim world and netizens termed it as a “historic moment” in US politics.
When Trump, who is looking for another term in the Oval Office, was asked about his tax returns, he replied, saying: “I’ve paid millions...and you’ll see it”.
To this, Biden responded with “when? Inshallah!” and then began to chuckle.
The Republican’s taxes have been one of the major talking points in the presidential race.
Footage of the incident spread like wildfire on social media as the moment caught many off guard.
Many still in disbelief, wondered whether Biden actually said "Inshallah" or "in July".
However, Asma Khalid, a national political correspondent for NPR covering the 2020 elections, even contacted Biden's campaign to confirm whether the democratic candidate actually said the common Muslim expression.
Most people one Twitter, mostly Muslims, simply expressed their surprise, noting that “anything is possible in 2020”, a year marked with tragic global events such as coronavirus pandemic.
Fadi Hilani, a linguistics professor at Montclair State University in New Jersey who has researched the use of Inshallah, told The Washington Post that the phrase simply seemed too sophisticated for Biden, who does not speak the language, to use in a presidential debate.
“If somebody talks about passing a test, and you say, inshallah, that means you’re hoping they pass,” Helani said. “But if somebody says that, and you know they’re a lazy student, inshallah means you don’t believe them at all.”
“He was casting doubt, in a sarcastic way, on Donald Trump saying he would release his tax returns,” he added. “What Trump is saying is too good to be true.”