Footage of US President Joe Biden play-biting babies at a White House event has drawn condemnation from supporters of Donald Trump.
One of the babies Biden bit was dressed like a turkey during the Halloween event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington.
The president was also seen with a baby’s foot in his mouth, and was captured kissing the hand of another little girl.
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Republican Party supporters immediately reacted to the bizarre-looking acts on social media, arguing they’re a reason to vote against Vice President Kamala Harris at the forthcoming US presidential election.
“WTF is wrong with this man,” one X user wrote.
“Someone call 911 immediately,” another responded.
The president and first lady Jill Biden welcomed local area students, military-connected children, and neighbourhood families for trick-or-treating, ahead of Halloween on Thursday.
Not the first time
It was not the first time Biden has bitten a baby — footage circulated in January of Biden nibbling at a little girl’s shoulder.
He was also criticised in 2019 for sniffing the hair of women and girls, landing him the nickname “creepy Joe” in global headlines.
At the time, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of the controversial behaviour: “I don’t think it’s disqualifying.”
“But he has to understand in the world that we’re in now that people’s space is important to them and what’s important is how they receive it, not necessarily how you intended it.”
Reactions divide the internet
The biting behaviour of Thursday has sent shockwaves through the internet.
Some could barely believe it. “Is this AI,” one person tweeted on X.
Others slammed the actions and asserted them as a reason to abandon support for the politician and his party.
“Bring this up at your next rally,” one Trump fan tweeted on X. “Kamala said she’d do nothing different than Biden, therefore she’d bite babies too.”
“Trump is disgusting personally and says many vile things directed at an individual for a specific group of individuals, but he never insulted 45 per cent of Americans like Biden did. In addition, Trump didn’t bite any babies,” another wrote.
“Biden has no boundaries, he’s completely inappropriate,” another wrote.
But with baby kissing on the campaign trail a common albeit odd tradition, Biden’s “bite” was not taken to heart by all.
“We’ve all seen how old people playfully tease babies and toddlers with mock nibbling … just come off it,” one netizen tweeted on X.
“I also want to bite chubby baby legs, and I’m no Biden fan. Baby chonk is just the cutest,” another said.
“The baby was laughing and enjoying Joe Biden’s humour. These MAGA clowns actually thought he was going to bite the baby? If they want something to be outraged about, then look at … (Trump) groping a woman in 1993 with his best friend, Jeffrey Epstein.”