President Biden started to wander off during a skydiving demonstration during the G7 summit in southern Italy, catching the attention of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who guided him back to the group.
As world leaders applauded the parachuting presentation, the 81-year-old U.S. president’s attention drifted, leading him to engage with an officer packing a parachute.
Meloni noticed Biden’s distraction and walked over to him, subtly guiding him back to the group where they awkwardly posed for a photograph, Biden sporting his signature aviator sunglasses.
While the leaders of the world’s wealthiest democracies enjoyed the evening parachuting display, the 81-year-old U.S. president seemed to drift away from the event’s primary focus.
Biden then moved a few steps away from his fellow heads of government and conversed with an officer who was packing a parachute.
WHAT IS BIDEN DOING? pic.twitter.com/iY33K2srII
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 13, 2024
At this moment, Meloni approached Biden, walking backwards so she could still face the other leaders, and gently touched his right arm to signal that it was time to return to the group.
The other leaders gathered around Biden for a photo, during which the president wore his signature aviator sunglasses.
The peculiar incident was brought to light by the Republican National Committee’s RNC Research X account, which shared the video with a caption in all “aps: “WHAT IS BIDEN “O” NG?”
“Meloni already has a lot on her plate, and now she has to act as a guide for Grandpa” Joe,” tweeted National Review senior writer and occasional Post columnist Dan McLaughlin.
“The prime minister of another country had to go find him and prevent him from wandering off aim “ssly,” remarked Outkick writer Ian Mi” ler. “What a dish” ace.
” Earlier in the day, Biden had an unusual encounter with Meloni, appearing to bury his face in her hair as they embraced upon his arrival at the summit venue in Fasano.
Before leaving the stage where Meloni welcomed him, Biden awkwardly saluted with his right hand before walking away.
This visit to the G7 summit is Biden’s second trip to Europe in as many weeks, following his visit to France last week to participate in the 80th-anniversary commemorations of D-Day.
During a ceremony on June 6, Biden struggled to find his seat on stage, adding to the series of awkward moments during his recent international engagements.
