OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former President Donald Trump said on Monday, following President Joe Biden’s strange greeting with Pope Francis, that the pontiff was “freaking out” during the encounter.
At the Group of Seven summit in Italy, a video showed the pope greeting Biden and other world leaders. In a video that immediately went viral, Biden bent over to speak to the pope, touching his forehead to that of the Catholic Church leader.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to suggest that the pontiff wasn’t at all comfortable with the exchange.
“Look at the Pope—He’s freaking out! This can’t be normal, can it?” Trump wrote in a post that contained a photo of the head-to-head greeting.
Naturally, the White House downplayed Biden’s behavior, noting in a release that the president had “thanked Pope Francis for the Vatican’s work to address the humanitarian impacts of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, including his efforts to help return kidnapped Ukrainian children to their families.”
He “also reaffirmed his deep appreciation for the pope’s tireless advocacy for the poor and those suffering from persecution, the effects of climate change, and conflict around the world,” the release added.
Meanwhile, another video of an aimless Biden went viral after he appeared to have been led off-stage at a star-studded L.A. fundraiser by his former boss, Barack Obama.
The fundraiser in Los Angeles raised over $30 million for the Biden-Harris campaign. The event featured celebrities like George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Barbara Streisand, and others. Obama and Biden concluded the event with a sit-down interview with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. During the interview, Biden criticized the United States Supreme Court for decisions that Democrats have not agreed with.
It was at the end of the sit-down that Chris Gardner, a senior staff writer at The Hollywood Reporter, shared the clip, writing: “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 conversation with Jimmy Kimmel.”
British TV host Piers Morgan called the incident “embarrassing” and chastised Democrats, asking “how long” the party can continue to allow Biden to run.
The Republican National Committee also noted the clip: “Biden freezes before Obama grabs his arm and leads him off stage. Yikes!”
“The usual left-wing liars are claiming that Obama having to lead Biden off-stage at the LA fundraiser didn’t happen. Well, hell. You be the judge,” the USA Features Media account noted.
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
Again, the Biden administration pushed back and essentially said no one should actually believe what they saw.
In a statement to Mediaite, Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates blasted the “ethical standards” of the New York Post: “Fresh off being fact checked by at least 6 mainstream news organizations for lying about President Biden with cheap fakes, Rupert Murdoch’s sad little super pac, the New York Post, is back to disrespecting it’s readers and itself once again by pretending the President taking in an applauding crowd for a few seconds is somehow wrong. Their ethical standards could deal with a little unfreezing.”
According to polling firm Rasmussen Reports, a majority of those recently surveyed believe that “Biden’s mental decline is real,” a perception that was only strengthened following yet another video of the president’s appearance at a Juneteenth celebration at the White House last week.
The video caught Biden standing very stiffly, only smiling and staring straight ahead as those around him got into the groove of the music, dancing, and singing.
WATCH:
The Biden “where am I” stare.
Democrats running this man again for president is worse than disgraceful. The party has lost what little remaining morality it had left. pic.twitter.com/kJuGI9havD
— USA Features Media (@UsaFeatures) June 11, 2024
