It's not ironic, it's exactly what I suspect from people whose only connection to politics is privileged spectacle watching. A real mask off moment for radlib comedians

The Onion staff consistently portrayed Biden as an outrageous character who shared almost nothing in common with his namesake besides the title of vice president of the United States. Instead, the publication portrayed Biden as a blue-collar "average Joe", an affable "goofy uncle", a muscle car driver, an avid fan of 1980s hair metal, a raucous party animal, a shameless womanizer, a recidivistic petty criminal, and a drug-dealing outlaw.

he is a rapist senator from Delaware, and his job is to help the CIA sell narcotics. The Onion's representation is actually the truth, but as privileged class traitors they think this sort of lumpenprole praxis are cool and light hearted

The Biden character became one of The Onion's most popular features during the Obama presidency, garnering critical acclaim and a large readership.

"it's cool that Donald Trump breaks the laws and is a womanizer" but it's Blue MAGA

“I think where his [Biden’s] real personality converges with Diamond Joe is that he has a heart of gold,” Nackers says. Each “stands up for the right thing.”

DemSoc values

Biden's vocal approval of the character should have been a red flag indicating that their satire was ineffective.

DemSoc praxis

I don't believe The Onion's Biden is solely responsible for this early popularity of real-life Biden. We were just one small link in a chain of institutions that didn't scrutinize Biden closely enough. I wish we had looked more at his actual career in politics—which includes opposition to busing as a way to integrate schools and support for predatory financial institutions—and tried to really puncture him, rather than just turning him into a clown. We helped make him more likable by inventing a version of Biden that never existed. ... As a guideline, if the people you're satirizing aren't mad, then you should dig deeper. I hope that my alma mater, and everyone else in comedy, follows this rule now that Diamond Joe is back.

“alma mater” gulag