President Joe Biden has once again been targeted by critics on social media following a video from the G7 summit in Italy.
This week, the 81-year-old POTUS attended the G7 summit, featuring leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
But it looked like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had to take charge on Thursday (June 13), as she was seen appearing to guide President Biden back to a photo opportunity after he "wandered off" during a skydiving display featuring parachutists displaying allied nations' flags.
The world leaders had gathered to witness the parachute jumpers descend from the sky, symbolizing unity and military strength among the allied nations. As the leaders applauded the skydivers, President Biden began to stroll away.
Noticing Biden's departure from the group photo, Prime Minister Meloni swiftly intervened, guiding him back to join the other leaders for the crucial photo opportunity alongside the parachutists.
Responding to videos circulating on X, one user wrote: "Look how they all cover for him."
Another X user tweeted: "Dear Lord, please help America. We’re hanging on by a thread. How much longer will they let him embarrass us?"
And political commentator Collin Rugg described the video as a "clown show".
Despite the comments from social media users, videos appear to show Biden simply waving and giving a thumbs-up to a parachutist who was on the ground collecting his gear.
Responding to media reports criticizing Biden's momentary absence, White House press secretary Andrew Bates defended the president's actions, accusing the media of a "desperate" attempt to distract from Biden's diplomatic efforts.
Bates highlighted that Biden had engaged with the skydivers and congratulated them, emphasizing the positive aspect of the event - and that videos circulating online using a "narrow frame" to distort what was really going on.
"He's saying congratulations to one of the divers and giving a thumbs up," Bates confirmed.
Many social media users sided with Biden, with one supporter echoing Bates' comments, writing: "He was talking to someone. This is so desperate."
Throughout the event in Italy, Meloni has taken a proactive role in managing the proceedings. She personally welcomed each leader to the luxurious venue on the Apulian coast and ensured they were positioned correctly for the group photos after cordial exchanges, the Daily Mail reports.
The G7 summit has been pivotal, focusing on critical discussions such as directing resources to Ukraine from frozen Russian assets, collaborative efforts on infrastructure development, and a decade-long commitment from the U.S. to bolster Ukrainian security.
Amidst the serious discussions, the summit also featured moments of light-heartedness, including the arrival of leaders in golf carts and Fiat 500s.
