Marco Rubio's Weak Joke About Biden And Neanderthals Backfires On Twitter

The general consensus among Twitter users appears to be that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) spectacularly missed the mark with his attempted wisecrack about President Joe Biden and Neanderthals.

Biden sparked faux outrage among conservatives on Wednesday when he described as “Neanderthal thinking” the decision to lift mask mandates ― amid the coronavirus pandemic ― in states such as Texas and Mississippi.

Rubio chimed in Thursday with this “joke” on Twitter:

President Biden’s use of an old stereotype is hurtful to modern Europeans, Asians & Americans who inherit about 2% of their genes from Neanderthal ancestors. https://t.co/aXHJV5wLlr

He should apologize for his insensitive comments and seek training on unconscious bias.

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) March 4, 2021

“I’m assuming this is satire. So hard to tell with people who suck at this,” responded “Star Trek” actor George Takei.

Other critics weighed in with their own takes on the alleged gag:

“Why aren’t there more conservative comedians?”

— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) March 4, 2021

I’m assuming this is satire. So hard to tell with people who suck at this. https://t.co/B0fK4Uwbu0

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) March 4, 2021

Is this satire? I can’t tell anymore https://t.co/PvAT0CmKKN

— Aki Peritz (@AkiPeritz) March 4, 2021

Funny but not in the way he thinks it’s funny. https://t.co/maJedRQemW

— Kim Masters (@kimmasters) March 5, 2021

hi @marcorubio — I fixed it for you!! https://t.co/0HCJcHYt0N pic.twitter.com/RzmTdS1s1l

— claire de lune (@ClaireMPLS) March 5, 2021

Seriously? Neanderthals, Dr Seuss, Potatoheads... you would never know that thousands are dying daily from Covid, millions are in desperate need of economic relief. And Republicans like Rubio don’t give a damn. https://t.co/zEQHPA1bfq

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) March 5, 2021

Imagine wanting to be a victim this badly https://t.co/nXUoCpeW7x

— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) March 4, 2021

Don't look now, but Marco just acknowledged Evolution is real. https://t.co/xJ65MSHUWk

— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) March 4, 2021

I love this tweet because I like imagining how much Rubio and his staffers were giggling before they sent it out, just 100% conviction that they were sending out an absolute banger https://t.co/uJSUiOvRbw

— Brian Gaar (@briangaar) March 5, 2021

Guys, this is personal for him. Lay off. https://t.co/ABBbyRu4Jz

— Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (@AbdulElSayed) March 5, 2021

.@TheOnion isn’t hiring, Senator. Dial it back. https://t.co/FQxRgeu5Qr

— rosanne cash (@rosannecash) March 4, 2021

Wait... are you literally trying to denounce president Biden for saying these “let COVID rip” governors are THINKING like neanderthals by calling white Americans ACTUAL neanderthals? Because I don’t think that’s the mic drop you think it is, Senator. Maybe YOU should apologize. https://t.co/GAFIkUJQuJ

— Joy-Ann Pro-Democracy & Masks Reid 😷 (@JoyAnnReid) March 4, 2021

this is bait https://t.co/Zh6o86VpMn

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 4, 2021

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.