Hunter Biden reportedly lashed out at former President Barack Obama after Obama appeared to lead Joe Biden offstage by the arm during a June 2024 fundraiser — a moment that quickly went viral and fueled growing questions about President Biden’s mental decline.
According to a new book by ABC News’ Jonathan Karl, Hunter was furious over the video, saying Obama’s gesture made his father look weak and confused before a live audience.
“I almost jumped up on the stage and said, ‘Don’t ever f***ing do that to the President of the United States again — ever,’” Hunter told Karl, according to an excerpt obtained by Axios.
Karl noted that Hunter believed his father had only paused to greet the audience and didn’t require any assistance exiting the stage. “I knew right then it would turn into a meme,” Hunter said, adding that it “really, really, really, really made me angry.”
Biden’s Struggles on Full Display
The incident added to a series of embarrassing moments for Joe Biden that dominated the news during the final months of his presidency. Polls at the time showed that a majority of Americans — including many Democrats — believed Biden was too old to lead the country.
Just days after the Obama moment, Biden was caught on camera wandering away from other world leaders during a G7 event in Italy. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was forced to walk over, gently take Biden by the arm, and lead him back to the group — another clip that quickly spread across social media.
White House Dismisses ‘Misleading’ Videos
The White House dismissed both incidents as “misleading,” claiming the viral videos used “narrow camera angles” that exaggerated the situation. But to many Americans, the images spoke for themselves — showing a president who appeared increasingly frail and dependent on others to complete even routine events.
For longtime observers, the moment between Obama and Biden was symbolic: the former president once again taking the lead, while the man who served as his vice president struggled to keep pace.
Conservatives Say It’s a Pattern
Conservative commentators argue the pattern is clear — from Obama’s guiding hand to world leaders redirecting Biden at global summits, the president’s public appearances highlight the decline of American leadership under his administration.
As one Fox News host put it, “If your own son is furious about the way you’re being handled in public, it might be time to face the reality that America deserves better.”