US President Joe Biden appeared to freeze up on stage and needed a little help from his friend, former President Barack Obama, at the end of a dazzling campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles on Saturday, the New York Post reported.
The awkward moment was caught on cameras and unfolded after a 45-minute interview with late-night funnyman Jimmy Kimmel at the Peacock Theater. As Biden and Obama stood basking in the applause, Biden seemed to lock eyes with the crowd, standing still like a statue for about 10 seconds until Obama swooped in, taking his hand and gracefully guiding him offstage.
The internet had a field day with the videos, sparking another round of debates about Biden’s readiness for another term. Critics were quick to jump in, questioning the fitness of the oldest sitting president in US history, especially after he appeared to wander away from other world leaders during the G7 summit in Italy just last week.
But the White House wasn’t having it. They fired back, accusing the New York Post of spinning tall tales. Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates took to X to set the record straight, saying Biden was just soaking in the love from the audience.
“Fresh off being fact-checked by at least 6 mainstream outlets for lying about @POTUS with cheap fakes, Rupert Murdoch’s sad little super PAC, the New York Post, is back to disrespecting its readers & itself once again. Their ethical standards could deal with a little unfreezing,” Bates quipped.
He added, “By pretending the President taking in an applauding crowd for a few seconds is somehow wrong, all they’re really admitting — 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.”
The star-studded event wasn’t just about political theatre; it was a blockbuster hit for Biden’s campaign, raking in a record-breaking $30 million-plus. The night sparkled with the presence of Hollywood A-listers like George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Barbra Streisand.
During their chat with Kimmel, Biden and Obama underscored the mission to keep Donald Trump out of power in what’s shaping up to be a history-defining electoral showdown.