Joe Biden and Pope Francis shared an intimate moment on Friday ahead of a discussion on AI, energy and the Africa-Mediterranean region at the Gy Summit being held in Italy. A video of the moment shared on social media zoomed in on the reaction of Argentina president Javier Milei.
Joe Biden and Pope Francis shared an intimate moment on Friday ahead of a discussion on AI, energy and the Africa-Mediterranean region at the Gy Summit being held in Italy. A video of the moment shared on social media zoomed in on the reaction of Argentina president Javier Milei
As the octogenarian duo engaged in a forehead rub, Milei seemed to frown in surprise first, before looking away awkwardly. Here’s the video.
NEW: President Joe Biden goes in for an intimate forehead to forehead with the Pope at the G7 summit in Italy.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 14, 2024
Pope Francis appeared to look uncomfortable with the gesture.
According to insiders at the G7, Biden’s performance is the “worst” it has ever been, noting that he… pic.twitter.com/o94JTQo8WH
Javier Milei, President of Argentina, looking 👀 at Argentina’s Pope Francis and Joe Biden: pic.twitter.com/2c1fSLllvX
— Dr Taylor Marshall™️ (@TaylorRMarshall) June 14, 2024
With Biden looking to stake claim for the Oval Office for another four years in the US elections in November, the moment has gone viral on social media, with many calling it a gaffe, much like several other Biden moments from the summit that have gone viral. However, could it be more than that?
An April 22 survey done by the Pew Research Center found that President Joe Biden is in trouble with Catholic voters with only 35% of them having a favourable view of the 81-year-old.
However, the report said that it is important to note that neither Biden nor Trump is viewed favourably by the Catholics, but the Democrat is worst off between the two with 64% disapproving of him.
The Pew survey says that Trump’s edge over the incumbent POTUS is mainly due to the white Catholics swinging in his favour. The survey, called Religion and Politics Ahead of the US Elections, showed that Donald
Trump has an approval rating of 51% among Catholic voters.
The US has a population of 52 million Catholics, which constitute one in five adults. Among American Catholics, 57% are white, while 33% are Hispanic. The Pew survey showed that while White Catholics support Trump, Hispanics have a less favourable view of him, with Biden having an age.
As a result, Trump’s forehead bump with Biden could well be part of a strategy to swing votes from the community in his favour. Whether it would be a success or not, only the post-poll analysis will be able to accurately determine.
