Bumbling Biden dragged off stage by Obama at glitzy fundraiser
Author of the article:Mark Daniell
Published Jun 17, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
In a viral video from his star-studded campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles Saturday night, Joe Biden appeared to freeze up in front of A-list names like George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack Black, Barbra Streisand and more before Barack Obama was forced to step in to lead the U.S. president off the stage.
Biden, 81, took part in a 40-minute conversation with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and former President Obama as the trio sounded the alarm over the possible re-election of presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.
“I could have done nothing and done it better than him,” Biden swiped, taking direct aim at his opponent, whom he will debate later this month.
“Institutions matter. What he did on January 6th, and now he’s literally saying if he doesn’t win there’ll be a bloodbath. It’s outrageous – what he’s talking about is outrageous,” Biden said.
Biden later added: “The idea that he’s actually threatened retribution. This is the United States of America. Did you ever think you’d ever, ever, ever hear anything like this?”
The president also mocked Trump’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Remember the pandemic?” Biden asked the crowd. “He said, ‘Just don’t worry. Just inject a little bleach.’”
“It worked for me,” Kimmel, who referred to Trump as the “orange Julius Caesar,” quipped in response.
Obama took aim at Trump’s felony convictions in his recent hush money trial tied to allegations that he falsified business records to cover up payments to porn star Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election.
“Part of what has happened over the last several years is we’ve normalized behaviour that used to be disqualifying,” Obama said. “The nominee of one of the two major parties, sitting in court and being convicted by a jury of his peers on 34 counts … There was a time when we had certain core values that we agreed with. We believed in basic honesty. We believed in paying your taxes. We believed in making sure that we didn’t make fun of [prisoners of war], that we did not try to politicize our military, that we respected the ballot.”
But at the end of their appearance together, Biden appeared to become fixated on the crowd before Obama gently took his wrist and led him off the stage.
The Hollywood Reporter‘s Chris Gardner shared a clip, which has garnered more than 1.6 million views on X, writing: “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 conversation with Jimmy Kimmel.”
Critics of Biden pounced on the clip, with the conservative @endwokeness account asking: “Biden froze again last night and had to get escorted out by Obama. Is this normal?”
“So embarrassing,” British journalist Piers Morgan observed. “The Democrats can’t let this go on, surely?”
Morgan also agreed with billionaire Bill Ackman, who questioned whether Biden should continue to lead America in his perceived diminished state.
“Some people are old at 81 and others are sharp, vigorous, and impressive. Compare Warren Buffett at 93 and Biden at 81. Biden is an old 81 who can’t find his way off a stage or stay present and focused at a G7 conference,” Ackman wrote. “A president should not have to be led off stage by hand or with an arm wrapped around him. That is not the image of strength and leadership we need as a country.”
Ackman warned that the Democratic party is damaging itself if it continues to support the idea of another Biden presidency.
“The Democratic Party is destroying itself by advancing Biden for a second term. This is the Emperor’s New Clothes in real life. But it is not a children’s book or a joke. The world is at great risk, and a Biden second term is a grave threat to global security and prosperity.”
Trump himself posted the clip to his Truth Social page and asked his followers, “Is this really who you want to be your President?”
But White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates dismissed critics of Biden, writing that he was simply basking in all the attention.
“By pretending the President taking in an applauding crowd for a few seconds is somehow wrong, all they’re really admitting is – once again – is they can’t take on the leadership that’s fueling the strongest economic growth in the world & bringing violent crime to a 50 year low,” Bates shared in an X post.
Biden’s fundraiser took in a record $30 million-plus for the Democratic candidate, according to his campaign.
But the clip follows several other recent moments where Biden has appeared to be confused about where he is and what is going on around him.
At last week’s G7 summit in Italy, Biden seemed to wander off at one point.
“From Italy to the United Kingdom to New York, millions of people around the world woke up to headlines about Crooked Joe Biden’s cognitive decline on full display at the G7 Summit,” Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “Biden was seen staring off into the distance and wandering around like a brain-dead zombie, and even had to be ushered by Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.”
One diplomatic insider told the U.K. Sun the commander-in-chief’s behaviour is “the worst he has ever been.”
Similarly, during a Juneteenth celebration at the White House earlier this month, Biden was filmed standing still while the crowd surrounding him, including Vice President Kamala Harris, clapped, danced and sang along.
“Lights are on but no one’s home,” Trump’s campaign joked as it shared video from the moment.
“Who said Biden’s got no rhythm?” Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee wrote piling on.
mdaniell@postmedia.com
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