President Joe Biden called in on King Charles III at Windsor Castle on Monday on his way to this week’s NATO summit, being treated to tea and talk on climate change.
Biden appeared hypnotized for a moment when he received a traditional sword salute presenting of arms from an officer of the Guards at the end of one of the lines of soldiers in the guard of honour, leaving Britain’s King Charles having to work to recapture the President’s attention. Appearing disoriented, or even consciously disregarding Charles III, Biden appeared to be trying to engage the guardsman in conversation.
King Charles III shows a confused Joe Biden around Windsor Castle pic.twitter.com/YzpcIo4ngo
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 10, 2023
After a moment’s gesticulation and spoken remarks, the King appeared able to get the President moving in the right direction once again. In a departure of protocol, after being chaperoned away, President Biden threw his arm around King Charles’ back.
How is this even real? King Charles has to show Biden where to go.
We are a laughing stock. pic.twitter.com/ZvWfAlbxeL
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) July 10, 2023
The President and King then took tea inside, before meeting with a group of politicians and business leaders including John Kerry and the UK’s Net Zero minister Grant Shapps to talk about climate change. While Biden cultivated disputation over a possible snub by missing King Charles’ coronation earlier this year, the pair have met several times before, including at the Cop26 climate forum.
WATCH: Joe Biden is so utterly confused mid senior-moment at Windsor Castle— King Charles has to physically man-handle him to dog-walk him on-stage pic.twitter.com/H7G5UYbHvw
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 10, 2023
While Biden enjoyed a formal welcome with honour guard, his visit to the United Kingdom was not a full state visit, which would have included a greater degree of formality, as well as a state banquet. 12 U.S. Presidents have made presidential visits to the United Kingdom, but just three of those have made state visits: George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.
NEW: A confused Biden walks in front of King Charles during his visit to the UK.
The media doesn’t seem to have an issue with this. Let’s see what they had to say when Trump walked in front of the queen.
CNN: Trump's walk with the Queen: Like 'wandering up and down a golf… pic.twitter.com/02aMQeT6uV
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 10, 2023
