Before addressing the horrific mass shooting that left six dead at a Nashville’s Covenant School on Monday, President Joe Biden joked that he only came to a White House event because he heard there would be ice cream.

“My name is Joe Biden. I’m Dr. Jill Biden’s husband,” the 80-year-old president began his remarks at an East Room gathering of women-owned businesses. And I eat Jeni’s ice cream — chocolate chip. I came down because I heard there was chocolate chip ice cream,” he said.

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“By the way, I have a whole refrigerator full upstairs. You think I’m kidding? I’m not,” Biden added.

Addressing the Covenant School shooting, in which three students and three staff members were killed, Biden called it “sick” and “a family’s worst nightmare” and demanded once again that Congress ban assault weapons.

However, he again turned to the ice-cream with another shout-out to a representative from Jeni’s, an Ohio-based chain.

Also Read |  Who were Cynthia Peak, Katherine Koonce, Mike Hill, adult victims killed in Covenant school Nashville shooting?

Biden was trolled for his ill-timed attempt at humor.

“Joe Biden didn’t even talk about the shooting and instead he talked about ice creams so they are already ignoring it. You’re talking about anime?” a Twitter user said.

“@JoeBiden u should take some action against school shooter and Stop talking about icecream,” another user said.

The suspected shooter was fatally shot by police at Covenant School in the city’s Green Hills neighborhood, police said. The shooter was identified as Audrey Hill, a 28-year-old woman from Nashville, who officials said was armed with at least two assault-style weapons and a handgun.

Also Read | Who were Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, student victims killed in Covenant School, Nashville shooting?

Biden is likely to launch his re-election campaign as soon as next month. He is already the oldest-ever sitting US president. He would be 86 years old if he completes another term in 2029. His ice cream humor is likely to be a fodder for those who say he is simply too old to be elected to second term.