June 11th 2024.
The Juneteenth event at the White House on Monday night was filled with lively music and dancing, but all eyes were on President Joe Biden as he seemed to freeze for almost a minute. Standing stiffly with his arms at his side, the 81-year-old president appeared to be in a daze, with his mouth slightly open and his gaze fixed ahead. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris was fully embracing the moment, dancing and clapping along to gospel singer Kirk Franklin's performance.
It wasn't until Philonise Floyd, the brother of the late George Floyd, who's death sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism, noticed Biden and put his arm around him that the president snapped out of his trance. With a smile on his face, Biden exchanged a few words with Floyd and even gave him a friendly fist bump. However, this brief episode did not go unnoticed, sparking concerns and criticism on social media.
One user wrote, "Seeing President Biden freeze and slur his words during the Juneteenth celebration is concerning. We need strong leadership more than ever." Some Republicans even used this as an opportunity to further their narrative that Biden is unfit to serve another term, with the Trump campaign tweeting, "Lights are on but no one's home."
Among the crowd was also actor Billy Porter, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, and Vice President Harris, who later joined Biden on stage for remarks. However, even during his speech, Biden seemed to struggle with his words, slurring them at times. "She knows loss... she know," he said before continuing with some incoherent words. He also reminded the audience that "black history is American history" and urged them to keep marching and keep the faith.
But this wasn't the only mishap for Biden that night. The president also stumbled while walking up to the stage, causing concern for his well-being. However, this is not the first time an elderly political figure has appeared to freeze in public. In 2023, then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell suffered a similar episode at a press conference and announced his retirement a few months later.
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Biden's health continues to be a hot topic. With his age and recent episodes, many are questioning if he is fit to serve another term. However, Biden remains determined to push forward and make progress, as he stated during the event, "The day reminds us that we have a helluva lot more work to do. Let's keep marching. Let's keep the faith."
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