He was left there, all alone.
At the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, former President Joe Biden stood awkwardly on stage, giving a half-hearted wave to the crowd after the ceremony wrapped up.
While a jubilant President Obama danced to the music and a beaming Jill Biden exited the stage, the 46th president remained on his own, looking rather bewildered.
For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, the 83-year-old approached the podium, removed his sunglasses, and gazed at the audience with a perplexed expression.
With a hint of confusion, he asked, “Where is my granddaughter?”
Then, it seemed he started to step off the stage just as the footage from the event cut out.
This outing marked a rare public appearance for Biden, and it echoed moments from his presidency—he appeared somewhat lost and confused after the event.
On Thursday, he joined former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, along with their spouses and former Vice President Kamala Harris, to celebrate the center’s opening.
At one point, Obama approached Biden, both sharing a laugh as they exchanged friendly pats on the back. During his speech, Obama expressed gratitude, saying, “Thank you for eight years of solid partnership. Joe, we started as running mates and ended as family, and we wouldn’t be here without you. We are grateful.”
Biden’s presidency has been a contentious subject among Democrats, particularly given how it concluded. Critics argue that he should have stepped down earlier to enhance the party’s chances against Trump.
Hillary Clinton commented on this, saying, “He made a terrible mistake for himself, his legacy, and his country,” speculating on how a different candidate might have fared better against Trump.
Jill Biden acknowledged she might have opposed her husband’s bid for a second term if given another chance. She even recounted a moment during a debate against Trump in 2024 when she thought her husband might be having a stroke.
While Biden holds the record as the oldest president in U.S. history, Trump, who turned 80 recently, is set to surpass that mark by the end of his term.
