 "How Joe Biden is proving to be the commander-in-chief of embarrassing moments at G7 Summit")
United States President Joe Biden travelled to another meeting of world leaders and, once again, awkward moments ensued. Arriving last at the G7 summit in Puglia, Italy, on Thursday, Biden was greeted by the host country’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni.
As he shuffled onto the stage, Biden appeared to sniff her hair. Following a brief exchange, she directed him towards a frame bearing the G7 logo, which each leader signed.
Before departing the platform, Biden offered an awkward salute to Meloni, a gesture that quickly went viral on social media. One social media user quipped, “Did Giorgia Meloni join the US Military and no one told us? Why did Biden just salute her?”
Later, Biden wandered off during a parachute display and began an impromptu conversation with an officer, prompting Meloni to intervene and redirect him back to his place among the other leaders for a group photo.
This incident, along with Biden’s previous gaffes, fueled ongoing discussions about his cognitive health. Social media reactions were mixed, with one user defending him by saying, “Hey numbnuts he wasn’t wandering off he was giving a thumbs up to the other parachuters on the side of the screen.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsJUST IN: President Biden appears to start wandering off at the G7 summit and has to be handled back in.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 13, 2024
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was seen grabbing Biden to bring him back to the group.
This wasn't the only awkward encounter between the two. Biden was caught on… pic.twitter.com/xf8NizIVgH
Despite these concerns, Biden remains an active participant on the global stage. The G7 summit, comprising leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, focused on pressing global issues such as the war in Ukraine, artificial intelligence, and migration.
The leaders discussed ways to support Ukraine , including a significant proposal to back a $50 billion loan using frozen Russian assets.
Biden’s recent gaffes spark criticism
Biden’s previous appearance in France for the D-Day 80th anniversary also drew mockery due to his perceived gaffes. During a Juneteenth celebration at the White House, he appeared to freeze while others danced around him, further raising questions about his mental state.
LMFAOOOO
— Gio DeBatta 🍸 (@GDebatta) June 7, 2024
biden faces wrong way at d-day ceremony
french president macron, his wife brigitte look so confused. then they turn and face wrong way with biden
pic.twitter.com/gLNe47qjup
Pollster JL Partners found that 49 per cent of US voters think Biden is likely to forget where he is during the upcoming presidential debate with Donald Trump on 27 June. Additionally, 41 per cent believe he will walk the wrong way off the debate stage, and 40 per cent think he will have problems standing up.
A separate survey found that the word voters most associate with Biden is “old,” while Trump is most associated with “criminal.” Other popular words for Biden included “incompetent,” “senile,” and “bad,” whereas for Trump, they included “evil,” “smart,” and “American.”
Biden’s recent moments of awkwardness
Biden’s moments of awkwardness were not limited to the summit. During an interview with ABC News anchor David Muir in France, Biden claimed he had “known” Russian President Vladimir Putin “for over 40 years,” despite Putin spending the entire 1980s as an undercover KGB intelligence officer.
Biden’s statement drew scepticism as Putin only became a public figure in August 1999 when he was handpicked by then-President Boris Yeltsin to become prime minister.
'Decent' Biden about his relationship with Putin
— brane mijatovic (@brane_mija64426) June 6, 2024
"I've known him for over 40 years. He's concerned me for 40 years. He's not a decent man," interview with ABC News.
🥴 In fact, the two politicians first met in March 2011, Biden was vp and Vladimir Putin was prime minister. pic.twitter.com/F2CR43iiHM
These incidents are not isolated. Biden’s tenure has been marked by several public gaffes that have raised eyebrows and fueled media speculation about his cognitive abilities. Critics point to these incidents as signs of his declining mental acuity, a narrative that gained traction during his US presidential campaign and has persisted throughout his presidency.
Also Read: Is Britain's PM Rishi Sunak being snubbed by other G7 leaders?
Despite these challenges, Biden continues to engage in high-stakes international diplomacy, with the G7 summit addressing critical global conflicts, the spread of artificial intelligence, and issues affecting Africa, alongside new pledges of assistance for Ukraine amid its war conflict with Russia.
Biden’s ’embarrassing moments’ at the high-profile G7 summit have amplified concerns about his ability to effectively lead the US. As he prepares for the upcoming US presidential debate, the scrutiny on his mental and physical fitness is likely to intensify.
With inputs from agencies
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