At the dedication ceremony for the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, former President Joe Biden experienced an awkward moment. As the event concluded, Biden was seen pulling down his sunglasses, looking into the crowd as his wife, Jill Biden, and Barack Obama exited the stage, leaving him behind. Biden was reportedly searching for his granddaughter, who was in the audience.
The dedication brought together a host of political figures, including former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former Vice President Kamala Harris. The event celebrated the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza.
The incident arises amidst ongoing scrutiny regarding Biden’s health and his decision to run for a second term in 2024. During a recent appearance at New York’s 92nd Street Y, Hillary Clinton referred to Biden’s reelection bid as a ‘terrible mistake.’ Clinton argued that a competitive primary process could have positioned the Democrats more strongly against Donald Trump.
After Biden’s controversial debate performance against Trump, he faced immense pressure from Democratic leaders to withdraw from the race. Opinion pieces and public calls mounted against his continued run, but Biden remained in the race for weeks after the debate. Former first lady Jill Biden expressed concern that her husband might have suffered a stroke due to the criticized debate performance, suggesting he should not have pursued his re-election.
Biden’s handling of classified documents has led to a legal dispute with the Justice Department, especially regarding audio recordings from interviews with former Special Counsel Robert Hur. Hur’s description of Biden as a ‘well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory’ added fuel to the debate about Biden’s mental fitness for office.
Now, Biden, 83, is battling Stage 4 prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, adding to the gravity of the concerns surrounding his health and capacity to lead.