President Joe Biden has gone viral after he briefly put on a “Trump 2024” hat during a visit to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Video of the interaction at the Shanksville Fire Station shows Biden signing one of his presidential hats before giving it to a gentleman wearing a “Trump 2024” hat.
The man could be heard asking the president, “Do you remember your name?” To which Biden quipped back, “I don’t remember my name. I’m slow.… I’m an old guy.”
The two appeared to laugh, and after handing the hat to the man, Biden said he had to give him the Trump hat.
“Do you want my autograph?” the man asked.
“Hell no,” Biden responded.
The man then handed him the hat and told him to put it on.
“I ain’t going that far,” Biden said.
But he did, sparking applause from the crowd as he turned to them smiling, wearing his former opponent's merchandise.
Since the moment has gone viral, White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates shared on social media that the moment was meant to show unity on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
“At the Shanksville Fire Station, @POTUS spoke about the country’s bipartisan unity after 9/11 and said we needed to get back to that,” Bates posted on X. “As a gesture, he gave a hat to a Trump supporter who then said that in the same spirit, POTUS should put on his Trump cap. He briefly wore it.”
Some have used the photo as an attack on Biden’s mental sharpness and his support for his vice president, the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris.
“BREAKING: Kamala did so bad in last night’s debate, Joe Biden just put on a Trump hat,” the Trump campaign’s rapid reaction team posted on X, adding in another post, “Thanks for the support, Joe!”
Since the attempt on former President Trump’s life, Biden has pushed for more unity in the country, trying to drop the political temperature.
During the 9/11 memorial event in New York City on Wednesday morning, Biden, Harris, Trump, and Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), Trump’s choice for vice president, were all seen standing together to honor the victims of the terrorist attack.
Trump and Harris were also seen exchanging pleasantries, shaking hands as they arrived.
Biden and Harris then visited Shanksville to honor those who died on Flight 93. Trump also appeared in Shanksville later in the day.