The White House is vigorously disputing the authenticity of a series of videos circulating online, which critics claim show President Joe Biden needing assistance to leave the stage at a recent fundraiser in California. These videos, which depict former President Barack Obama seemingly leading Biden off stage, have been characterized by some commentators as evidence of Biden “freezing up.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the controversy in a press briefing, stating that the videos in question have been misinterpreted and potentially manipulated. “All the video shows is two good friends walking off stage together,” Jean-Pierre clarified. She went on to assert that the portrayal of President Biden in these videos is not only misleading but also part of a broader trend of “deep fakes” aimed at discrediting the President.
Jean-Pierre emphasized the importance of verifying the authenticity of such content before drawing conclusions, noting that modern technology makes it easier to create convincingly altered videos. She cited several instances where videos of President Biden have been cropped or edited to mislead viewers. “These videos are done in bad faith and are intended to sow doubt and confusion,” she said.
The controversy is not isolated to the recent fundraiser. During President Biden’s attendance at the G7 summit in Italy, the Republican National Committee (RNC) posted a video that appeared to show Biden walking away from world leaders. However, a wider shot revealed that Biden was actually speaking to a skydiver, debunking the initial interpretation. Similarly, another video posted by the RNC from a Juneteenth concert on the White House South Lawn showed Biden standing alone, which critics used to question his awareness. Fact-checkers later found these videos to be misleadingly edited.
Jean-Pierre underscored that these incidents are part of a systematic effort to undermine the President. She highlighted that multiple news organizations have fact-checked these claims and found them to be false. “The right-wing critics of the President have a credibility problem because fact-checkers have repeatedly caught them pushing misinformation,” she stated.
An ABC News poll reveals that a significant majority of Americans believe President Biden is too old to serve a second term, a sentiment that these videos seem to exploit. The White House’s strong response aims to counteract this narrative and reassure the public of Biden’s capability and fitness for office.
As the prevalence of digital misinformation continues to rise, the White House is urging the public to rely on verified information from credible sources and to approach sensational videos with skepticism. The administration remains committed to addressing these challenges head-on and maintaining transparency in its communication with the American people.
