‘Orange President’, ‘AI Biden’: The conspiracy theories surrounding Joe Biden's address at Oval Office

President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office on Wednesday for the first time since withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race. Intended to clarify his decision to step down from his re-election bid, Biden’s speech instead sparked a surge of conspiracy theories across social media.

During his address, the 81-year-old President said, “I revere this office, but I love my country more.” He added, “It’s been the honour of my life to serve as your president. But in the defence of democracy, which is at stake, I think it is more important than any title.”

Biden emphasised that “the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation”. This comes just days after he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the presidential nominee.

While the president struck a sombre tone, some MAGA (Make American Great Again) aka Donald Trump supporters couldn’t shake off their suspicion that Biden’s speech might have involved AI trickery, particularly due to his unexpectedly orange-tinged skin.

Since then the whispers have also grown louder, and many social media users are making similar speculations. Let’s dive into some of the most talked about conspiracy theories.

AI Biden?

Some social media user have stirred the conspiracy pot, claiming that Biden on-screen was produced by artificial intelligence

They noted the ‘suspicious’ backdrop of the Oval Office during Biden’s speech.

One user wrote, “Why does the backdrop of the Oval Office look pixelated like a green screen w/ photos on a table behind him? The flags especially! Something stinks.”

Some users even even questioned the office’s setting during Biden’s address. One user wrote, “There was some weird glitchy things going on in the background”, while another commented that the backdrop looked like a “movie set.”

Earlier this week, President Biden found himself plagued by these ‘AI’ rumours when he called in unexpectedly during Kamala Harris’s speech. He was unable to attend in person due to Covid-19.

Before Harris’s address at the campaign headquarters, a somewhat groggy-sounding Biden made a brief call to express his support and gratitude to Democrat campaigners. He said: “If I didn’t have Covid I’d be standing there with you. I’m so proud of what you’ve done. I’ll keep out of people’s hair for the next three or four days."

However, some MAGA supporters alleged that Harris made an accidental slip suggesting the call might have been a recording, with others even suggesting it could be AI.

At one point, Harris said: “Joe, I know you’re still on the rec… on the call.” Some on X noted that it sounded like Harris nearly said “recording” but quickly corrected herself.

Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted, “Did Kamala spill the beans? Was it a recording? That’s what she started to say."

Another user wrote: “WOW! Something is fishy about this‼️ Joe Biden who has been missing for a week just called into Kamala Harris’s event at her campaign headquarters. This call could be pre-recorded or even AI."

A third added: “Why are they using an ‘AI’ Joe Biden voice? Joe hasn’t spoken that clear & pronunciation with words in over 10 years."

The unusual appearance 

Soon after Biden’s address, it didn’t take long for the chatter to hit social media about Biden’s complexion, which some users described as “very orange”.

One X user wrote, " Biden is sporting his Trump orange spray tan again. And his eyes are bugging out. One thing is uncertain - is this speech ’live’? Or did he record it?”

“Joe Biden became orange, and now he’s stepping aside. That should be an example to us all,” wrote a second user.

Another user said, “Did Joe Biden’s team make him look more and more orange on purpose?”

Some users even pointed out that Biden was slurring during his whole speech.

Criticising the US President Collin Rugg, a popular Conservative voice wrote on X, “ An ‘orange’ President Biden struggles to pronounce his words while reading from a teleprompter in the Oval Office. Biden said he had to ‘save democracy’ by letting his own party stage a coup on him.”

“Those who cherry that cause, cherish it so much. A cause of Americademocritcy itself. We must unite to protect it. Nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy,” Rugg quoted Biden as saying during the speech.

With input from agencies