Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited DC and was hosted by the Biden White House for an official visit and state dinner on Wednesday, April 10, during which the leaders mainly focused on defense issues, namely their continued cooperation in the Pacific to deter Communist China. They also commented on technological issues like space, AI, quantum computing, the ever-present semiconductor issue, and clean energy. Biden, however, went viral online for his faltering performance during the event, such as when he was led around by the hand during a ceremony.
Though the jokes about President Biden garnered most of the attention after the event, perhaps the most important and newsworthy thing to come out of Prime Minister Kishida’s visit was the new pledge between Japan and the United States to collaborate on defense programs in the South China Sea, namely air defense cooperation.
“For the first time, Japan and the United States and Australia will create a network system of air missile and defense architecture,” President Biden said. Air and missile defense in the region is particularly important given China’s large stockpile of cruise and ballistic missiles capable of hitting US and allied ships and airbases across the region, making it important for the American-led alliance system to focus on defense systems that can defeat those missiles, generally by shooting them down or jamming them.
Further, the meeting was an attempt to help revamp America’s alliance system in the region, with an administration official telling reporters, on Tuesday, April 9, “The idea of switching to a multilateral, lattice-like strategic architecture is then to flip the script and isolate China.” That official continued, “When you have, like we did this week, the United States, Japan, Australia and the Philippines doing an exercise together, when you have the trilat on Thursday, the country that’s isolated is China, not the Philippines.”
In any case, that was not what garnered the most attention on social media. Rather, what took off the most was a cringeworthy video showing President Biden and Prime Minister Kashida marching between rows of troops standing at attention. While Prime Minister Kashida made it around fine on his own guidance, President Biden was led by the hand for part of the walk, horrifying many online.
The RNC Research account on X (formerly Twitter), one managed by the Republican National Committee, drew attention to the video, saying, “Biden does his signature shuffle as he’s led around the White House lawn.”
Watch the video here:
Replying to the RNC Research account, one account roasted Biden, saying, “They might as well put a leash on him. He literally has to be lead around so he doesn’t get lost. This is so embarrassing.” Another, in reference to Biden’s signature sunglasses, said, “I will never wear Aviators again.”
Yet another added that Biden seemed to be swinging his arms somewhat oddly, asking, “What the hell is wrong with his arms??” Replying, another commenter said that the issue seems have been that he was trying to march, but that his gait generally has been worsening, saying, “I think he thinks he’s marching. At least this time. But his gait, his arm & hand movement, worsening blunt affect is very concerning & just getting worse.”
Similarly, a different commenter noted President Biden’s strange gait as well, saying, “He walks like he’s blindfolded. Come to think of it….everything he does is like he’s blindfolded.” Others joked, “Looks like the Westminster Dog Show is well underway” and “Training wheels for the POTUS!”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video
"*" indicates required fields