Are awkward Biden videos ‘cheap fakes’?
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A spat has broken out between the White House and US media over reporting of Joe Biden’s behaviour at recent public events.
Several publications, including the New York Post, have published videos that apparently show the US president freezing or wandering off – amplifying longstanding concerns about his age.
The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, has responded by accusing Mr Biden’s “Right-wing critics” of acting in bad faith and pushing cheap fakes.
Another official, Andrew Bates, said the New York Post and other media organisations could do with “unfreezing” their ethical standards on journalism.
The row has once again reignited the long-running argument – is Joe Biden a victim of media trickery or is his team in denial over his cognitive frailties? We take a look:
Juneteenth
At a concert at the White House to celebrate Juneteenth, Mr Biden was filmed standing rigid for a full 30 seconds, only turning his head slightly, as Kamala Harris danced next to him.
On examination of the complete footage of the concert, it appears Mr Biden is more broadly suffering from limited physical mobility rather than any sort of mental lapse, as his critics have suggested.
He is seated for the entire concert apart from at the end when he stands up to deliver a speech.
At no point does he attempt to join in the dancing with the rest of the crowd.
Mr Biden, according to his annual medical examinations, suffers from arthritis in his spine which his doctor characterises as “moderate to severe”.
He also has mobility issues after breaking his foot in 2020 while playing with one of his German Shepherds. He has a noticeably stiff gait and has fallen over at public events.
Mr Biden did not dance at an inaugural ball after taking office because the event was cancelled – something put down to the Covid-19 pandemic.
G7
Widely publicised footage appeared to show Mr Biden wandering off at the G7 summit on June 13, before being guided back to a group of world leaders by Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister.
“What is Biden doing?” the Republican National Committee’s research team asked on social media. The New York Post branded him “Meanderer in Chief”.
In fact, the full video shows that G7 leaders had been watching a parachuting demonstration, and that Mr Biden had walked off to congratulate a member of the display team.
This is not immediately apparent from the footage circulated on social media because of the way the footage is cut and cropped.
Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, defended Mr Biden when asked about his behaviour at the summit, saying he was simply “being polite”.
Mr Sunak said: “As far as I know he went over to talk to some of the parachute jumpers, saying thank you or hello to them all individually.”
Fundraiser
The New York Post reported that Mr Biden “appeared to freeze up” at a fundraiser on June 15 where he spoke alongside Barack Obama, the former president.
Donald Trump, Mr Biden’s rival in November’s election, latched on to the claim and posted the footage on his Truth Social platform. “Is this really who you want to be your president?” he asked.
Most versions of the clip start with the US president pausing in front of the crowd – cutting out the few seconds beforehand, when he raises his hand to take in the applause before clapping.
He then drops his arm to his side and stands stiffly on the stage. Jimmy Kimmel, the talk show host, also stands still on his right-hand side with his arms clasped together.
Mr Obama waves to the crowd before tugging at the 81-year-old’s wrist. The pair then walk offstage together.
Ms Jean-Pierre said it showed the two men “have a relationship. They are friends. They’re like family to each other”.
The New York Post reported that Mr Obama took Mr Biden’s wrist and “led him offstage”. What the former president meant by the gesture is unclear.
