Online discussion has erupted over a video showing Joe Biden offering a young girl unsolicited dating advice, with some calling his actions “creepy.”
Reporter Kalen D’Almeida posted video of the US president posing for a picture with the girl, who appears to be a teenager, on Twitter on Friday. Since then, the video has received approximately five million views.
In the video, Biden can be seen grinning as he stands behind the girl and an older woman who is using her phone to take a selfie.
“Now a very important thing I told my daughters and granddaughters — no serious guys until you’re 30,” he says while placing his hand on the girl’s shoulder.
President Joe Biden grabs a young girl by the shoulder and tells her “no serious guys till your 30” as she looks back appearing uncomfortable, secret service appears to try to stop me from filming it after Biden spoke @ Irvine Valley Community College | @TPUSA @FrontlinesShow pic.twitter.com/BemRybWdBI
— Kalen D’Almeida (@fromkalen) October 15, 2022
“Ok. I’ll keep that in mind,” she responds while nervously laughing.
The president then repeats his advice to the woman who appears to be accompanying the teen.
“At least!” she agrees.
In Mr D’Almeida’s Twitter caption, he claims Biden “grabbed” the girl, who “looks back appearing uncomfortable”.
He also claims the president’s secret service team tried to stop him from filming the moment.
Viewers are divided over ‘uncomfortable’ moment
The video has been inundated with thousands of comments, triggering a heated debate among viewers.
While many said they found Biden’s actions “creepy” and “uncomfortable”, numerous others were quick to defend the 79-year-old, saying he is a “grandfather figure”.
“Check out the initial reaction on the face of that young girl. A picture is worth a thousand words,” one Twitter user said.
Others insisted the incident had been “blown way out of proportion”.
“Any young adult gets embarrassed/awkward when talking about things like dating. He’s from an older generation, I don’t see the problem with a hand on a shoulder,” a woman said.
“She doesn’t appear uncomfortable at all — that’s just you projecting,” someone else agreed.
Biden gave the same dating advice to a group of eight-year-old girls at a primary school in March, the Daily Mail reports.
