President Biden's visit to the United Kingdom has generated significant attention after a clip went viral, with critics suggesting that it showed the President appearing confused and in need of guidance.
This visit marked Biden's first meeting with King Charles III since his coronation earlier this year and is expected to kick off a week of European diplomacy, focusing on climate change and the ongoing War in Ukraine.
During the Inspection of the Guard outside Windsor Castle, Biden stopped and engaged in conversation with a guard at the end of the line. King Charles could be seen attempting to lead Biden away from the guard, but the President continued speaking, seemingly unaware of the king's gesture. Eventually, Biden followed the king, leaving the lineup of soldiers behind.
This moment quickly gained attention on Twitter, with many interpreting it as another instance of the President requiring guidance and raising concerns about his mental acuity. Ryan Fournier, founder of Students for Trump, tweeted, "How is this even real? King Charles has to show Biden where to go. We are a laughing stock." David Bishop, President of Nostalgia Network, commented on the optics, stating, "The optics of this are horrible for Biden. He looks like Mr. Magoo inspecting the troops."
Critics on social media did not hold back in their mockery of Biden. Jim Treacher, a writer for Substack, jokingly suggested that Biden was questioning the guard's hat, saying, "So that's a hat? It's not your actual hair?" Joey Mannarino, a podcast host, referred to the incident as the "dementia walk in full color and 1080p."
The clip also prompted comparisons to former President Trump's interactions with Queen Elizabeth II. Darren Grimes, a commentator for GB News, tweeted a video of Trump meeting the Queen, expressing nostalgia for the former President and stating, "A reminder of how good Trump was for Britain and how much I miss our late Queen." Wendell Husebo, a reporter for Breitbart, recalled a bizarre comment made by Biden in June, "God save the queen, man," despite Queen Elizabeth II passing away in September 2022.
Collin Rugg, co-owner of Trending Politics, highlighted the contrasting treatment of Trump and Biden in similar situations. Rugg tweeted, "NEW: A confused Biden walks in front of King Charles during his visit to the UK. The media doesn't seem to have an issue with this. Let's see what they had to say when Trump walked in front of the queen," along with a list of past headlines criticizing Trump's actions. Rugg questioned whether Biden would receive the same scrutiny.
Indeed, when Trump walked ahead of the queen during a visit in 2018, mainstream reporters considered it a breach of protocol. TIME Magazine reported it as a "royal faux pas," and The New York Times confirmed that it is improper to walk ahead of the queen.
Slate writer Nick Greene humorously compared Trump's actions to a tourist in New York City, stating, "The jetlagged Trump then cut off the queen, much like a New York City tourist might stop abruptly in the middle of the sidewalk to consult the novelty map he'd picked up at M&M's World in Times Square." Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator, criticized Trump's behavior, suggesting that he appeared as if he were "wandering up and down a golf course."
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