President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were on hand to greet three freed Americans as they returned home Thursday following their release as part of a historic 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States.
While it was certainly a momentous occasion, the 81-year-old commander in chief sparked new health concerns with his appearance after the plane touched down just before midnight.
After greeting Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, ex-U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, Biden confidently took questions from reporters and gave clear, fluid answers about the prisoner swap, described as the biggest between Russia and the West since the Cold War era.
"I meant what I said. Alliances make a difference. They stepped up and took a chance for us, and it mattered a lot," he said. "The toughest call on this one was for other countries, because I asked them to do some things that were against their immediate self-interests and it was very difficult for them to do."
But when Harris stepped forward to give a statement, Biden appeared to fade away as he looked off into the distance. While Harris spoke, sometimes stumbling through her words, Biden stood like a "deer in headlights," multiple users noted on social media. He only appeared to move once, scratching his head with a vacant look on his face.
"Joe Biden is gone. Absolutely freaking gone," one X user commented.
"Biden looks lost," said another.
Similar comments followed, such as: "Does Biden know he's there," "This is why Joe should have been in bed four hours ago," and "He is gone! Doesn't even look like him."
Harris was also criticized for her unscripted response, which some have labeled as "chopped word salad."
"I am very thankful to the president and what he has done his entire career, but in particular as it relates to these families and these individuals, what he has been able to do to bring the allies together on many issues, but particularly this one," she said.
"This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy and understands the strength that rests in understanding the significance of diplomacy and strengthening alliances," Harris continued as the president looked on.
Biden, the oldest president in US history, told a gathering of Democratic governors in July that he planned to stop holding events after 8 p.m. so he could get more rest and work less hours.