US President Joe Biden has drawn gasps from social media after being photographed biting babies at the White House ahead of Halloween. The 82-year-old, on Wednesday, was hosting guests in the South Lawn for trick-or-treating, alongside first lady Jill Biden, when his interactions with at least four babies made headlines.
In one of the pictures, published by the Associated Press, Biden is seen “jokingly” biting a baby dressed as a chicken for the event. Another photo shows him putting the foot of one–thrice–in his mouth.
Local Washington students, children with a military connection and other neighbourhood families were invited to the White House for the pre-Halloween celebrations. On four different occasions, parents who brought their babies to meet Biden watched as he bit or “sucked” their toes.
One of the theories going around on the internet is that the president was pretending to be a shark to play along with the JAWS soundtrack playing during the party.
Many people online, however, had other explanations for Biden’s antics.
"You really can’t make this up. Jill Biden dressed as a panda bear, a pedophile symbol, as Joe Biden bit a baby dressed up as a chicken while a man in line with a child for trick-or-treating wore a pizza costume,” read a take, adding the symbolism of chicken and pizza also carries paedophilic connotations.
“Biden literally put a baby’s foot in his mouth, and somehow that’s ‘okay’ to the same people who lost it over a comedian’s joke about Puerto Rico’s waste management issues. The double standard is unreal! These people are just sick and disgusting," commented another X user.
“They're eating the dogs. They're eating the cats. Joe Biden is biting the babies,” said a third.
Biden was previously in the news for his "garbage” remark targeting supporters of Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump, who then built a campaign around it.