Over the weekend, a video capturing a moment of President Joe Biden leaving the stage with former President Barack Obama at a Los Angeles fundraiser drew criticism as it went viral on social media.
The clip, initially shared by Chris Gardner from The Hollywood Reporter, shows Biden, accompanied by Obama and Jimmy Kimmel, receiving applause on stage before Obama guides Biden offstage. The short clip has gained immense traction with over 600,000 views by Sunday evening.
Social media buzzed with critiques, questioning Biden’s brief pause on stage. Critics like @endwokeness and RNC Research X questioned the incident, while journalist Piers Morgan labeled it as “embarrassing.”
On the contrary, supporters like Rufus Gifford and Andrew Bates defended Biden against the backlash. Gifford dismissed claims of Biden “freezing” while Bates highlighted the significance of the moment, underscoring the administration’s achievements.
Additionally, another video perspective shared by journalist Olga Nesterova portrayed a more positive image of Biden interacting with the audience before leaving the stage, which adds nuance to the narrative.
The star-studded fundraiser successfully raised over $30 million for the Democratic candidate, featuring prominent figures like George Clooney and Julia Roberts advocating for Biden and Obama’s campaign to unseat former President Donald Trump.
The brief onstage incident is part of a larger discourse surrounding the mental acuity of both Biden and Trump, especially in light of previous public gaffes. Despite criticisms, both politicians maintain their fitness for office amidst ongoing scrutiny.
With Biden defending his capabilities and Trump challenging them, the video serves as a momentary flashpoint in the broader discussion about leadership and mental acuity in American politics.