Joe Biden “froze” and was led off stage by predecessor Barack Obama at a fundraiser for the President’s campaign this weekend, critics of the Democrat claim.
Footage posted on social media showed US President Joe Biden and the former President being applauded as they prepared to leave the stage at the 7,100-seat Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday night.
But after looking into the crowd for a few seconds, 81-year-old commander-in-chief remained rooted to the spot, prompting Obama to gently grab his wrist and lead him away.
The clip was shared on X account of RNC Research, which is fiercely critical of Biden and often posts footage of his gaffes.
“Biden freezes before Obama grabs his arm and leads him off stage,” the RNC wrote in the post, adding: “Yikes!”
However, one X user said they were at the event and said the incident was blown out of proportion.
“I was there . I saw three young adults yelling at Pres. Biden in front row. @POTUS Biden tried to listen and didn’t freeze up,” he wrote, adding: “He seemed ready to respond, Now incorrect news is spreading. Sharing my perspective.”
It comes after Biden, the oldest President in US history, appeared to freeze for several seconds before briefly stumbling on his words as he spoke at an event marking the anniversary of Juneteenth.
Video from the event showed the Democrat standing motionless as others, including Vice President Kamala Harris, cheered around him during a concert at the White House.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates the President didn’t freeze, his simply chose not to dance.
“It tracks that one of the most fact-checked groups in politics would falsely claim someone who never stops moving in a clip ‘froze’ because they simply weren’t dancing,” he told Newsweek.
“There are others in the video doing the same. We’ve been worried about the RNC ever since they attacked President Biden for petting a hero dog, for liking ice cream; and for respecting his wife. We hope they get the support they need.”
When he later gave a speech about Juneteenth – for which there is a federal holiday next week – he stumbled through a few words that are difficult to understand on audio.
Saturday night’s event was hosted by late-night star Jimmy Kimmel, who interviewed Biden and Obama.
Both men stressed the need to prevent former president Donald Trump from returning to the White House in a race polls suggest will come down to a handful of battleground states.
Trump, who turned 78 on Friday, has renewed concerns about his own mental fitness after a bizarre rant about sharks and electric boats at a recent campaign rally.
Addressing his supporters at a stop in Nevada, the former President said, in part: “It must be because of M.I.T., my relationship with M.I.T., very smart. I say, ‘What would happen if the boat sank from its weight and you’re in the boat and you have this tremendously powerful battery, and the battery is now underwater, and there’s a shark that’s approximately 10 yards over there?”
“By the way, lot of shark attacks lately,” he added. “Did you notice that?”
The property mogul then described asking the boat manufacturer if he should get electrocuted or jump near the shark in the hypothetical scenario.
“I’ll take electrocution every single time,” he told the audience. “I’m not getting near the shark.”
Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign has been approached for comment.
