A star-studded Hollywood fundraiser meant to showcase Democratic strength turns into a viral jab at President Joe Biden’s age and capability.
On June 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, an event featuring Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, and celebrities like George Clooney and Julia Roberts became a social media lightning rod instead of a unity rally, as The Daily Beast reports.
The incident that sparked the controversy was subtle but damaging—a brief clip showed Obama gently guiding Joe Biden toward the exit as the president paused to wave at the crowd.
Within hours, that moment exploded online, with conservative commentators replaying the footage and crafting GIFs that implied Biden, at 82, couldn’t navigate the stage without help.
The fundraiser, intended as a display of Democratic solidarity, was overshadowed by memes and snarky posts questioning the president’s fitness for office.
It’s no surprise that such a clip would fuel narratives about age and competence—narratives that conservatives have long pointed to as a legitimate concern in today’s high-stakes political arena.
Hunter Biden, in an interview for Jonathan Karl’s upcoming book, *Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America*, didn’t hold back on his anger over the incident.
“I almost jumped up on the stage and said, ‘Don’t ever f--king do that to the president of the United States again—ever,’” Hunter told Karl, as reported by Axios, clearly incensed by what he saw as disrespect toward his father.
While one can sympathize with a son defending his dad, it’s hard to ignore that the optics of the moment played right into the hands of critics who’ve been sounding alarms about Biden’s public appearances for years.
Hunter further explained, “He was taking a minute to acknowledge the crowd,” suggesting the pause was intentional and not a sign of confusion or weakness.
Yet, in the age of viral snippets, intent often gets buried under perception, and Hunter admitted the fallout hit hard, saying, “I knew that that was going to be a meme. That really, really, really, really p----d me off.”
One has to wonder if the Biden family’s frustration stems more from the public’s reaction than Obama’s action—after all, a single clip can drown out a thousand policy talking points.
The White House, through press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, has pushed back against such portrayals, labeling similar videos of Biden as “cheap fakes” peddled by right-wing detractors.
While it’s true that edited clips can distort reality, conservatives might argue that unedited moments like this one at the Peacock Theater still raise valid questions about leadership stamina in a grueling political landscape.
Months after the fundraiser, Hunter’s lingering resentment, as captured in Karl’s book set for release next week, shows how deeply these public perceptions cut for the Biden family, even as they navigate a chaotic campaign season.
