Joe Biden has been caught out in yet another moment of confusion on stage as his term in office draws to a close.
Biden, 81, had greeted 2023 World Series baseball champions Texas Rangers at the White House – but as the meeting was coming to an end, the Commander-in-Chief looked lost.
“All right, what am I doing now?” murmured the President after hob-nobbing with the baseball stars.
Biden had been gifted a jersey emblazoned with his name – alongside some personalised cowboy boots. When an aide came over to take the items, Biden asked: “Are you stealing my jersey?”
The 81-year-old President received a pair of cowboy boots from the baseball stars
Reuters
Biden looked a touch confused as he received his Rangers jersey
Reuters
After looking around the room for pointers on what to do next, another aide was prompted to step in, saying: “Distinguished guests, please remain in your seats as the President departs.”
Biden then proceeded to make his way off-stage, but not before appearing to mince his words again as he joked with players.
Looking around for Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, the President said: “You’re a standout pitcher Nathan, where are you, Nathan?
“And by the way, I want to know who the hell made his haberdasher. I like his dress man, I tell you. Looking good, Nathan.”
LATEST ON THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE:
Biden minced his words as he looked for pitcher Nathan Eovaldi
Reuters
The 81-year-old dodged questions about his endorsement to succeed him as he left the White House’s East Room.
And Vice-President Kamala Harris, who surged into the spotlight after Biden’s much-anticipated drop-out from the presidential race, was not in the building as the President met the Rangers.
Unlike her current boss and – she hopes – her predecessor in office, Harris has a presidential race to attend to, and was pictured stepping out on the campaign trail in Arizona while Biden remained in DC.
After naming her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris has been on a week-long tour of seven key states which her team have earmarked as potential election-winners.
Harris has been campaigning throughout the week
Reuters
In Glendale, in Arizona, some 15,000 supporters came out to listen to Harris – though a number of pro-Palestine protesters were in the building to voice their disagreement with her stance on the ongoing conflict.
The VP’s crowd sizes have come under fire from her election rival Donald Trump, who also portrayed “comrade Walz and comrade Harris” as left-wing extremists in a speech on Thursday.
The 45th President lashed out at a new Democratic attack line – popularised by Walz – that Republicans were weird, saying: “I think we’re the opposite of weird… They’re weird!”
Back in Arizona, riled-up crowds at Harris’s rally chanted “Lock him up”, referring to Trump.
Trump has hit out at “Lyin’ Kamala” and her crowd sizes
Reuters
Walz’s “Republicans are weird” attack line has come under fire from the right
Reuters
Walz had discouraged them, saying: “No, better than that, beat the hell out of him at the ballot box.”
Harris, responding to the same chant later, said: “Yeah, the courts will deal with that. We gonna win in November. We’re gonna win in November. We’ll handle that, too.”
Source Agencies
