During a recent visit to the Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center and Preserve in Palo Alto, California, President Biden made a statement about his administration's conservation efforts that raised some eyebrows. Speaking alongside California Governor Gavin Newsom, the President stated, "And maybe most important, I've committed to – by 2020, we will have conserved 30% of all the lands and waters the United States has jurisdiction over and simultaneously reduce emissions to blunt climate impact."

The apparent discrepancy in the timeline, with the President referencing a past date, prompted inquiries to the White House for clarification. Official documentation, such as a fact sheet released in March 2023, indicates the administration's goal is to conserve at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, backed by over $1 billion in investments for land, water, and wildlife conservation.

This incident follows another recent instance where President Biden's closing remarks at a Connecticut summit on gun control reform – "God Save the Queen" – sparked confusion. The phrase, associated with the United Kingdom and typically used during the reign of a female monarch, seemed out of place given the current monarch is King Charles III.