Social media was sent into a frenzy earlier Tuesday when footage emerged of President Joe Biden that appeared to show him struggling to stay awake when listening to a speaker at a dinner after meeting with survivors of the Hawaii wildfires.
The grainy footage was widely shared, particularly among conservative accounts and commentators, adding to what has been a poorly received trip for the president.
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But C-SPAN footage, at approximately 19 minutes, of the event was shared in the aftermath that was of clearer quality and indeed showed Biden with his eyes open. It’s unclear if he was simply bowing his head to pray or listen, or whether he was deep in thought, or indeed if he was briefly suffering from jet lag.
New video from Maui visit appears to show Joe Biden dozing in and out of sleep. pic.twitter.com/JdoBG6qfpu
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) August 22, 2023
Biden has appeared to fall asleep during visits in the past. Shortly after he took office, the president attended the COP26 climate conference, where he appeared to nod off during the opening speeches.
The president promised further aid to help rebuild Maui on Monday following a visit with first lady Jill Biden, Gov. Josh Green (D-HI), his wife, and other Hawaiian lawmakers. Biden gave a speech to first responders, expressing sympathy and promising assistance.
“The country grieves with you, stands with you, and will do everything possible to help you recover,” Biden said.
Biden said he and Jill Biden have a “little sense” when it comes to losing a home, explaining a fire that occurred in 2004 at a home next to his in Delaware, but he didn’t want to “compare difficulties.”
“To make a long story short, I almost lost my wife, my ‘67 Corvette, and my cat,” Biden said. “But all kidding aside, I watched the firefighters, the way they responded.”
The speech took place at Lahaina, a historic town of roughly 13,000 that had been destroyed in the fires. The wildfires have killed more than 100 people, with officials reporting nearly 850 people unaccounted for.
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The Washington Examiner reached out to the White House for comment.
CORRECTION: In a previous version of this story, it did not include C-SPAN footage that showed President Joe Biden with his eyes open. The Washington Examiner regrets the error.
