(Rightallegiance.com) – In a press conference on Saturday in Wilmington, Delaware, President Joe Biden appeared confused while standing alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Biden, tasked with introducing Modi, seemed to lose track of the event’s sequence. Instead of making the introduction, he paused, looking uncertain and as if expecting questions from reporters.
BIDEN: "Uhh, who am I introducing next? WHO'S NEXT?"
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 21, 2024
He is completely and totally cooked — and Kamala Harris covered it up. pic.twitter.com/g8zrqPsCeo
“I want to thank you all for being here,” Biden said, then added, “Now, who am I introducing next?” When he asked, “Who’s next?” an awkward silence followed, lasting several seconds. Eventually, an announcer stepped in to introduce Modi, who approached Biden and shook his hand.
This moment came just a day after Biden was criticized for allowing First Lady Jill Biden to take an unusually active role in a Cabinet meeting. It was the president’s first Cabinet gathering since October 2, 2023, and Jill Biden was present to discuss the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research.
President Biden justified his wife’s attendance by explaining, “Here and across previous administrations, first ladies have attended these meetings for specific reasons. This is the first time Jill has joined us, and it goes to show how important the issue is, which she is about to speak to.” After his introduction, Biden handed off to her, saying, “It’s all yours, kid.”
Jill Biden then read from a binder for four-and-a-half minutes, speaking about maternal health, while the president himself had only spoken for two minutes prior to her. The New York Post reported that Jill Biden sat at the head of the Cabinet Room’s table, a spot typically reserved for the president.
Historically, first ladies have rarely played such an active role in Cabinet meetings, with Hillary Clinton being one of the last to attend her husband’s Cabinet sessions.
Jill Biden’s increasing involvement has sparked debate, with many questioning the extent of her influence on the Biden administration. Social media was abuzz with critics pointing to her presence in the meeting as an overreach of her role as first lady.
Some, including commentators from the New York Post, have compared her influence to that of Edith Wilson, wife of President Woodrow Wilson. After President Wilson suffered a stroke in 1919, Edith Wilson managed access to her husband and played a significant role in decision-making, which led some to argue that she was, in effect, acting as the de facto president during that period.