Biden 'wanders off' at the G7 Summit, but Italian Prime Minister Meloni pulls him
At the G7 conference in Italy, US President Joe Biden seemed to stray from the group shot, so Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had to help him back into the frame. An incidental video has gone viral.
Video spurred discussion as some questioned Biden's mental sharpness.
The White House justified Biden's behavior.
In a another instance, Biden gave Meloni an awkward salute.
Social media users have taken to sharing a video showing US President Joe Biden appearing to stray from other leaders during the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy, only to be dragged back by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The video captures the 81-year-old President appearing to lose concentration and stray from the group of international leaders on Thursday while participating in a skydiving exercise. He turned left and walked up to a parachute-packing officer, giving him the thumbs up.
Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, stepped in to redirect him back toward the main event. Following that, the two leaders sat for pictures, with Biden gradually donning his signature aviator sunglasses.
Many people shared the video on social media, sparking discussion and casting doubt on Biden's eligibility for reelection. Others countered that the footage is context-free, pointing out that Biden and other leaders were staring at the man with the parachute.
Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates of the White House defended the president, saying the video was edited. "He's saying congratulations to one of the divers and giving a thumbs up," Bates stated on X.
Biden had several strange incidents during the G7 meeting in addition to this one. The US President was shown in an earlier video clumsily thanking Meloni before leaving the stage.
It was the most recent in a run of strange occurrences for Biden, which also included his seeming confused and having trouble sitting during a D-Day celebration in France.
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