President Joe Biden got people talking over the weekend when former President Barack Obama took his hand and guided him off the stage at the end of a fundraiser on Saturday night.
As Obama waved to the audience at the event packed with Hollywood celebrities, Biden faced them with his hands clenched. He only turned to leave the stage when Obama took his hand.
That’s a wrap on record-setting Democratic fundraiser for Joe Biden’s reelection campaign (netting $28M). Former President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden offer final waves to Peacock Theater crowd as Obama then grabs Biden’s hand to lead him offstage following 40-minute… pic.twitter.com/xbE2jf3jdz
— Chris Gardner (@chrissgardner) June 16, 2024
This is not the first time Biden would appear confused and unsure of what he was meant to do. At the G-7 summit last week, the president was standing with other leaders who faced forward for what seemed to be a photo session when he wandered off to the side.
As seen in a clip of the incident, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had to cross in front of the other leaders to get him and signaled to him to return to the group.
WHAT IS BIDEN DOING? pic.twitter.com/iY33K2srII
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 13, 2024
At the same summit, there was an awkward moment between Biden and Pope Francis when Biden pressed his forehead into the Pope’s forehead.
Milei’s reaction to Biden getting in too close to the Pope is incredible. pic.twitter.com/ktdywb5Kq2
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 15, 2024
These incidents and more intensify concerns about Biden’s cognitive health months after a report from Special Counsel Robert Hur’s criminal investigation of Biden pegged the president’s memory as “significantly limited.”
“Mr. Biden’s memory was significantly limited, both during his recorded interviews with the ghostwriter in 2017 [with whom he shared classified materials], and in his interview with our office in 2023 … We have also considered that, at trial, Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” the report stated.
However, Biden’s White House and the people around him have insisted that he is alright, as he continues his bid for a second term. Before the fundraiser on Saturday, his wife, Jill Biden, addressed concerns about the president’s age while she addressed a group of about 250 seniors in Phoenix, Arizona.
“Joe and the other guy are essentially the same age so let’s not be fooled. … Biden is a healthy, wise, 81-year-old ready to work every day to make our future better,” she stated.