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On social media, a video that purported to depict President Joe Biden entering the Amazon jungle went viral, generating a lot of conversation and memes. The video was taken during a news conference that Biden gave on Sunday in Manaus, Brazil, where he discussed investments in renewable energy and conservation.
Biden just read scripted remarks, answered no questions and then disappeared into the Amazon Rainforest.Wildest press conference I’ve ever seen in my life lmao. pic.twitter.com/408DGdmxbQ
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) November 17, 2024
Viral Clip Misinterpreted
Tarzan BidenPresident Joe Biden wanders off into the Amazon to pursue his hidden identity pic.twitter.com/WOvnVWL380
— Culture War (@CultureWar2020) November 17, 2024
Several users on X (previously Twitter) posted the footage, which shows Biden standing at a platform wearing sunglasses and a casual outdoor shirt. Instead of following the obvious path, he turns, waves, and appears to go into the thick woodland. The video, which was shared by @PopBase, was 13 seconds long and with the statement, "Joe Biden becomes the first sitting US President to visit the Amazon Rainforest." It had 26.1 million views and thousands of comments by Monday morning, with many of them guessing on Biden's future.
Rather than have to go home to DC and face Jill, Nancy and Kamala again, a sleepy Joe Biden wanders off into the Amazon forest instead. Can't blame him.pic.twitter.com/AVnLwnfsVt
— Jaimee Michell (@thegaywhostrayd) November 17, 2024
By Sunday, 4.5 million people had viewed another version, which was posted by regular Biden critic @EndWokeness. The president may have "wandered off" into the rainforest, it asked.
Full Video Debunks Claims
The viral allegations are refuted by an examination of the whole video. Instead of walking into the woodland, Biden took a different route that was hidden from view in the shorter videos. After Biden concluded his remarks, other officials and members of the press also took this route, which helped to further elucidate the situation, according to Newsweek.
What the heck is this LUNATIC doing?Biden is a fcking Coward Joe Biden is visiting the Amazon Rainforest and leading us into WWIII World War 3 with Russia at the same time. Wedon't want World War III! pic.twitter.com/vi2wwmvCvA
— Elon Musk {Parody} (@i_m_elon) November 18, 2024
Notwithstanding the real background, the video became the most recent in a string of memes that attempted to depict Biden as confused or lost.
Pattern of Misleading Memes
This instance fits into a larger pattern in which detractors, such as Donald Trump’s campaign affiliates, post films that cast doubt on Biden’s mental faculties.
An account associated with Trump's campaign, @RNCResearch, shared a video of Biden at a G7 gathering in June, as per Newsweek. In the footage, Biden appeared to be moving away from the main gathering of global leaders as he approached a guy packing a parachute following a skydiving display. Later, he was steered back for a picture by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The caption on the photo said, "WHAT IS BIDEN DOING?"
In a similar vein, the same user posted a video of Biden meeting passengers on an airplane in August. Given that the passengers had already gone, the video purported to demonstrate a "obvious decline."
White House Response Pending
The White House has not yet responded to the Amazon video in a formal manner.