PRESIDENT Joe Biden appeared confused while attending his only scheduled public event of the week.
Biden, 81, who ended his campaign last month, had to be reminded by an emcee to leave a White House celebration of the Texas Rangers‘ 2023 World Series on Thursday.
“All right, what am I doing now?” the president said after finishing the event.
He accepted a personalized jersey and cowboy boots from the team and saluted the athletes in the White House‘s East Room.
An aide approached Biden to grab the gifts as he joked, “Are you stealing my jersey?”
Biden stood awkwardly as he looked around the room for direction – even raising both hands in a seemingly questioning gesture as he seemed unsure of what to do next.
An emcee stepped in, saying, “Distinguished guests, please remain in your seats as the president departs.”
After this, the president walked off the stage.
Before the awkward exit, Biden delivered a bizarre compliment to the Rangers‘ pitcher, Nathan Eovaldi.
“You’re a standout pitcher Nathan, where are you, Nathan?” Biden asked.
“And by the way, I want to know who the hell made his haberdasher. I like his dress man, I tell you. Looking good, Nathan.”
A haberdasher is a store that sells men’s clothing.
Biden also mentioned to the team that he was a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies.
“I want the record to show I’ve got a little bit of an ability to say nice things because I married a Philly girl,” he joked, referring to First Lady Jill Biden.
“Anyway, Philly fans are tough. And if I didn’t root for the Phillies I’d be sleeping alone,” which earned laughs from the crowd.
Biden continued to joke that Jill “understands this part of the deal.”
He also spoke to the team’s manager, Bruce Bochy, who has four World Series wins to his name.
“I told him, he’s going to need another finger,” said the president. “Or else he’s gotta put the fifth ring on his thumb. I don’t know how you do that, man.”
During his remarks, Biden mentioned how the Rangers used to have ties to Washington.
On Sunday, July 21, 2024, 46th US president Joe Biden posted a letter X, formerly known as Twitter, announcing he's stepping down from the 2024 presidential race.
My Fellow Americans,
Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation.
Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.
I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.
It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.
I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.
For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.
I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together.
We just have to remember we are the United States of America
“As you know we’re 50 years since this franchise left Washington,” he said.
“You’re back in the nation’s capital as world champions and you deserve it.”
After the team awarded the president with a jersey and boots, Biden joked how the footwear would “give me another two inches.”
As Biden left, he ignored reporters asking about Vice President Kamala Harris, who he endorsed after dropping out of the race.
Former President Donald Trump has agreed to debate Harris at least once in the race for the White House.
ABC announced that Trump and Harris would face off on September 10 for a widely-anticipated debate.
Just a few days earlier, he stated that he wouldn’t debate on ABC, saying that his agreement with the network had been “terminated” via a post on Truth Social.
Trump declared that if Harris didn’t appear on Fox News instead, “I won’t see her at all.”
The Harris campaign made a scathing statement last week, saying Trump was “running scared.”
“Donald Trump is running scared and trying to back out of the debate he already agreed to and running straight to Fox News to bail him out,” spokesperson Michael Tyler said.
“He needs to stop playing games and show up to the debate he already committed to on [10 September]. The vice-president will be there one way or the other to take the opportunity to speak to a prime-time national audience.
“We’re happy to discuss further debates after the one both campaigns have already agreed to,” he said.
“Mr Anytime, anywhere, any place should have no problem with that unless he’s too scared to show up on the 10th.”
In her own post on X, Harris confirmed “I’ll be there on September 10th, like he agreed to.”
“It’s interesting how ‘any time, any place’ becomes ‘one specific time, one specific safe space’,” she said.
Trump appeared to have had a change of heart and seemed to pressure the vice president into agreeing to two more September debates on Fox and NBC.
When asked what would happen if Harris only agreed to the ABC debate, Trump said: ” don’t know how that’s gonna work out. We’d like to do three debates.
“We think we should do three debates.”
Harris later told reporters that she was glad Trump had “finally committed” to debate her.
“I’m looking forward to it and hope he shows up,” she said.”
