OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
President Joe Biden has once again gone viral on social media for all the wrong reasons after some apparent missteps during a meeting with Brazil’s left-wing president.
During an event to allegedly promote “worker’s rights,” Biden was seen bumping into the flag of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s country, then made a clownish half-jog onto the stage where he gave labored, rambling speech about his “economic vision to rebuild our economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down.”
“The two largest democracies in the Western Hemisphere are standing up for human rights around the world and the hemisphere, and that includes workers’ rights,” Biden proclaimed.
“Let me be clear, whether it’s the autoworkers union or any other union worker, record corporation profits should mean record contracts for union workers,” he continued, half-slurring his words.
“In America, I’m proud that my administration is characterized as the most pro-union administration in American history,” the president declared. “No, I really mean it.”
After Biden spoke, it was Lula’s turn, but the U.S. president appeared to fumble with his headset to get the interpretation of the foreign leader’s speech.
“Can you hear me, President Biden? This is a historical moment for Brazil and for the U.S.,” Lula declared as he began speaking.
“President Biden, can you hear me?” Lula asked once more, appearing to become agitated as Biden mumbled something in response. “You can?” he asked, turning to the president. “Yes, good.”
THIS IS THE STRANGEST THING I HAVE SEEN TODAY: The President of Brazil, Lula, standing next to President Biden says, “Can you hear me, President Biden?”, “President Biden, can you hear me?” WATCH pic.twitter.com/aiwDQ61YKN
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) September 20, 2023
After Lula finished speaking, Biden loudly declared, “Good job!”
But afterward, instead of shaking Lula’s hand, Biden simply turned around and left the stage, which appeared to irritate Lula further.
Biden salutes the audience and shuffles off stage, leaving Brazil's president behind pic.twitter.com/JtkV0rmYqO
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 20, 2023
The Citizen Free Press X account also noted in a post that contained a video clip: “Biden is such a freaking idiot. First he bumps into the Brazilian flag and then performs a half hearted ‘jog’ in an attempt to show his vigor. He’s a clown.”
Biden is such a freaking idiot.
First he bumps into the Brazilian flag and then performs a half hearted "jog" in an attempt to show his vigor.
He's a clown. pic.twitter.com/EJk5qf1OMj
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) September 20, 2023
In August, Biden ignited calls of “elder abuse” for another bit of odd behavior that many have tied to his obviously deteriorated mental status.
The 80-year-old president sparked the response and worse after a video clip of him greeting two world leaders went viral on social media.
Biden was at Camp David in Maryland to greet South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, a summit seen as the U.S. attempting to shore up relationships between both countries amid a rising China.
As the summit opened, a camera focused on Biden, who walked slowly down a pathway to an area in front of the Camp David sign, where he stood for a few moments gesturing as Yoon and Kishida approached to shake his hand.
Biden’s gait looked slow and stiff, leading The Blaze’s X account to label the incident “Elder abuse.”
Elder abuse pic.twitter.com/QcXG4CbuYU
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) August 18, 2023
Other users joined in as well.
“The audacity of liberals to run this guy again is simply astounding,” one X user wrote.
“He walks like he either just s**t his pants or is trying desperately not to!” another quipped.
“Why is his gait so robotic? lol,” said another.
“And ‘they’ want us to believe he can carry on ANY real conversation w/them?” said yet another user.
Though the White House fiercely pushes back on any suggestion that Biden’s age is catching up with him, the administration has nevertheless made some behind-the-scenes changes to better accommodate and protect him from himself.
After a series of high-profile stumbling and falling on the steps leading up to Air Force Once, the administration has quietly changed Biden’s boarding method, reports said last week.
POLITICO noted in a story headlined, “Biden downplays age talk — but subtle accommodations are being made,” the bizarre appearance of Biden, who recently stepped off Marine One wearing tennis shoes without socks.
“The informality of the president’s wardrobe distracted from something else — something reporters who travel with him have been noticing for some time,” the outlet noted. “Biden boarded using the shorter set of retractable stairs that fold into the belly of the plane. The routine began a few months ago, the president increasingly avoiding the grander, more traditional doorway near the front of the aircraft on the main passenger level, higher above the tarmac.”
