First Lady Jill Biden was seen pulling her husband, President Joe Biden, away from a D-Day commemoration ceremony in Normandy, France.
The event, which was meant to honour the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France, was attended by world leaders and dignitaries, including French President Emmanuel Macron.
Veteran Navy intel officer Jack Poso wrote on X: ” Jill Biden just pulled Joe out of the Normandy event, Macron staying behind with the veterans. What’s going on?”
Earlier today, the US President appeared disoriented and required assistance from President Macron.
The commemoration in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, where US forces suffered substantial losses on June 6, 1944, saw leaders from around the world gather to honour the largest sea invasion in history.
As Biden and Macron walked out on stage together, Macron closely guided the American president. While Macron stopped to greet other attendees, Biden seemed confused, looking left and right as if unsure of his surroundings.
At one point, Macron looked over and gave Biden a thumbs up, seemingly concerned about his counterpart’s state.
Throughout the national anthems of both France and the United States, which played back-to-back, Macron kept a watchful eye on Biden, who took off his sunglasses and adopted a more composed demeanour.
The Allied invasion, which began on June 6, 1944, led to the defeat of the Nazis and the end of the war. The assault began with Allied aircraft bombing German defences in Normandy, followed by around 1,200 aircraft that carried airborne troops.
As dawn broke, Allied forces started bombing German coastal defences and shortly after that vessels began putting troops ashore on five codenamed beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. By the end of the day, nearly 160,000 Allied troops had landed in Normandy, although there were thousands of casualties.
Biden reaffirmed America’s commitment to the defence of Ukraine, saying in his D-Day anniversary speech that “we will not walk away” and give into bullies.
Biden’s comment about bullies was a reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who sent his military across the border into Ukraine more than two years ago in an attempted takeover. The U.S. and other countries have been aiding Ukraine by sending weapons, money and other support.
Biden used his speech Thursday to connect what happened during World War II to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The president praised the power of alliances and said Russia’s advance will not stop with Ukraine if the world walks away. Biden said “Ukraine’s neighbours will be threatened” and “all of Europe will be threatened.”
He argued for holding strong against Putin, saying “to surrender to bullies, to bow down to dictators is simply unthinkable” and that to give in “means we’d forget what happened here” on the beaches of Normandy.