President Biden voted early Monday in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, where he found himself standing in line behind a man sporting a vulgar pro-Donald Trump hat. From a distance, the red hat appeared to be similar to Trump’s iconic Make America Great Again (MAGA) merchandise, but upon closer inspection, it read: “Elect That Motherf—er Again!!”
Photos captured Biden, 81, lingering about nine spots behind the unidentified Trump supporter at the polling place. The outgoing president, who has less than three months left in office, waited approximately 37 minutes to cast his ballot.
This isn’t the first time Biden has encountered awkward photo opportunities involving pro-Trump merchandise. He previously faced criticism for briefly wearing a MAGA hat during a September 11 visit to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, which Republicans later used in social media memes insinuating that he was unhappy about being replaced by Vice President Kamala Harris atop the Democratic ticket.
Biden has faced pressure from his peers to end his re-election campaign following a lackluster debate performance against Trump on June 27, which sparked concerns over the president’s cognitive abilities. Trump, 78, has claimed that Biden harbours resentment over what he sees as an undignified conclusion to his presidency.
However, when asked by reporters on Monday whether it felt bittersweet to vote for Harris instead of himself, Biden insisted, “This is sweet,” asserting that he has no regrets about stepping back from a second-term bid.
