White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates refuted claims that US President Joe Biden froze on stage at a Los Angeles fundraiser, instead greeting the audience and acknowledging their applause.
“By pretending that the President taking in an applauding crowd for a few seconds is somehow wrong, all they (Republicans and their supporters) are really admitting is – once again – that they can’t take on the leadership that is fueling the strongest economic growth in the world and bringing violent crime to a 50-year low,” Bates wrote on his X page.
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Jerrymusa.com reports that the Republican National Committee had earlier shared a video purporting to show former President Barack Obama escorting Biden off stage, suggesting a moment of confusion.
However, Bates emphasized that Biden simply paused to appreciate the audience’s applause before exiting with Obama.
The incident has been seized upon by Republicans to question Biden’s fitness for office, citing his age and occasional verbal stumbles.
Bates argued that this line of attack is a testament to the Republicans’ inability to engage with the President’s policies, which have driven economic growth and reduced violent crime to a 50-year low.
“They can’t take on the President’s leadership, so they’re resorting to unfounded claims about his mental and physical abilities,” Bates said.