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Former President Joe Biden weathered travel delays to fly commercial to South Carolina on Friday, where he was spotted taking an “awkward” selfie at the airport ahead of an event marking the sixth anniversary of his victory in the state’s 2020 presidential primary.
After Biden, 83, de-boarded his flight from Washington, he noticed a woman, who appeared to be in a wheelchair and wearing a cast, snapping a photo of him.
The former president, who was greeted warmly at the South Carolina airport, reached across the stanchion and plucked the woman’s phone to try and take a selfie.
Biden, and another woman who came over to help, fumbled with the phone for about 20 seconds before they figured out the camera.
The ex-president “BLANKLY STARED at it until someone intervened,” MAGA influencer Nick Sortor wrote on X, describing the interaction.
“THIS is the guy Democrats say is ‘sharper than ever!’” Sortor added.
MAGA activist Brandon Straka described Biden’s efforts at taking the selfie as an “awkward scene.”
“Just another bizarre Joe Biden moment,” X user Jeff G. posted.
“Is this that guy they said could lead the country for four more years,” conservative influencer Western Lensman tweeted, echoing numerous X users.
One X user, CS Ramza II, saw the interaction differently.
“Was [Biden] adding his contact information?!? #GameRecognizesGame,” Ramza II suggested.
Biden’s trip comes nine months after he revealed he was suffering from an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.
Social media lit up early Friday morning when travelers started to notice the familiar face at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
“Even a former president can’t avoid the fog delay at #DCA! President Biden waiting to fly out as well,” DC NewsNow journalist Susan Tran tweeted, along with a video of Biden waiting to board his plane, surrounded by Secret Service agents.
Once aboard, Biden smiled and chatted with fellow passengers as they passed his seat.
One female passerby lectured him about Israel’s war against Hamas, telling Biden that “children of Gaza are dying every day … we need to stop them.”
“I know that. Yeah, I know that. That’s why … “ the former president responded, trailing off as soon as the woman was asked to proceed to her seat.
Biden won the 2020 South Carolina primary after losing badly in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.
He beat out socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont with the support of powerful Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) and competitors who dropped out and feared that Sanders would lose to President Trump.
Biden’s cancer diagnosis was revealed this past May, just two days before the release of the widely hyped book “Original Sin” that chronicled his mental decline while in office, generating public sympathy and diverting attention from the alleged cover-up.
English (US)