Joe Biden, John Boehner top awkward moments at Congress’ first session

The peanut gallery did not keep quiet about the elephants in the room Tuesday.

The new Republican-led Congress’ first session of 2015 on Tuesday was marked by the reelection of House Speaker John Boehner – and several awkward moments that threw the Twitterverse into a tizzy.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi handed the gavel over to Boehner during the swearing-in ceremony on Capitol Hill.

Boehner leaned in for a brief kiss on the cheek, and Pelosi turned her head in a moment that some thought was as awkward as clumsy embraces between relatives during the holidays.

Plenty of people also commented on what they consider to be Boehner's orange glow.

Another maladroit kiss came when Vice President Joe Biden tried to give U.S. Senator Chris Coons’ young daughter a kiss on the head.

But the little girl didn’t seem too comfortable and leaned away from Biden.

This prompted New York Magazine to announce “Full Biden mode” was on display.

While swearing in newly elected and reelected senators, the gaffe-prone politician reportedly called new Republican Senator Joni Ernst by her husband’s name, Gail.

"Joni. My husband’s Gail," Ernst replied, according to KCCI News.

While posing for a group picture with children, Biden declared, “I like kids better than people.”

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham also attracted what some might consider dubious attention for giving Ernst a castration device for farm animals.

It was displayed on a plaque with the engraving, "Make 'Em Squeal, Joni!"

At one point, Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema from Arizona had some fun on the floor, twirling around and striking a pose, showing off her dress.

Democratic Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, surprisingly, did not show up for the event after injuring himself last week while exercising.

He broke several ribs and bones in his face and suffered a concussion when a piece of gym equipment snapped, the Associated Press reported.

Reid recorded a video wearing an eye patch saying that he regretted that he could not attend the day’s events and had been ordered by his doctor to stay at home.

In the video, he joked that he had never been this badly injured, even during his younger days as a boxer.

“I didn’t get this black eye by sparring with Manny [Pacquiao] or by challenging Floyd Mayweather,” he said. “I didn’t go bull-riding. I wasn’t riding a motorcycle.”

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky replaced Reid as the new Senate majority leader.