Biden gets some directional guidance in his own garden: Footage shows president ask 'where do we go?' after tree planting event for White House groundskeeper
- President Joe Biden, 79, got directed by staff as he tried to make his way back to the White House following a tree-planting event for groundskeeper
- Biden and First Lady Jill Biden planted an elm tree in honor of Dale Haney, the chief White House groundskeeper who marked 50 years on the job
- Footage posted on Twitter showed the president being steered after he was going the wrong way on the White House grounds
- It's just one of several awkward moments Biden has had after speeches in the past few months
- Last week, the president struggled to get off stage after his speech in Pittsburgh
- In September, Biden was seen wandering about the UN stage after a speech and in August, he struggled to put on his coat and his wife had to help him
President Joe Biden got a helping hand as he tried to make his way back to the White House following a tree planting event on the South Lawn.
Footage posted to Twitter on Monday afternoon showed the president leaving the event honoring the White House groundskeeper, but he stops short and is heard asking his team, 'where do we go?'
When a possible security staffer turns Biden around and points him in the right direction, he exclaims that he wanted to go the other way.
'You notice how much freedom I have?' Biden sarcastically says as follows the Secret Service back to where they wanted him to go.
The awkward moment is the latest the president has had in the past few months, some of which have called his health into question.
President Joe Biden appeared confused as he tried to make his way back to the White House following a tree planting event on the South Lawn on Monday
The footage posted to Twitter showed the president leaving the event honoring the White House groundskeeper, but he stops short and and asks his team, 'where do we go?'
When the security turns Biden around and points him in the right direction, he exclaims that he wanted to go the other way. The team responds that he can go that way if he wants to
In the most recent moment on Monday, Biden and First Lady Jill Biden had just finished a tree-planting event in honor in honor of groundskeeper Dale Haney and his 50 years working at the White House.
Haney, 70, who is chief White House groundskeeper, has seen 10 presidents come and go while tending to the grounds. He's not only cared for the families who live at the presidential residence, he's cared for many of their pets.
As the ceremony wrapped up, Biden started walking in one direction but stopped, appeared confused as security ushered him in the opposite direction. He complied and then stated that he wanted to go in the other direction.
His staff assured him that he could go that way, if he wanted to, adding that he could do whatever he wants. But Biden eventually turns and follows his staff toward the White House.
President Joe Biden and Jill Biden planted an elm tree in honor of Dale Haney (right), the chief White House groundskeeper who is celebrating 50 years on the job
Jill Biden described Dale Haney as 'one of the most beloved' members of the staff; above she, President Biden and Haney plant the tree on the South Lawn
Last week, the president seemed to struggle getting off stage at a rally in Pittsburgh - just a month after a similar gaffe following a United Nations speech.
After finishing his speech, Biden was seen turning toward his right to exit the stage when he stopped to talk to his team, raising his hands in question.
Shortly after, he spun around and exited the stage on his left side.
Last week, Biden was seen struggling to get off stage after a speech in Pittsburgh (pictured)
After finishing his speech, he was seen turning toward his right to exit the stage when he stopped to talk to his team, raising his hands in question. Shortly after, he spins around and exits on his left side
Prior to arriving to Pennsylvania, he made a rare stop to speak with reporters before departing – but instead of just answering questions, the president berated journalists asking about his campaign stops and abortion restrictions.
One reporter was called a 'kid' while the president told another to 'educate' themselves.
Despite the engagement with reporters outside of the White House, it is not uncommon for the president to need a little stage direction.
In late-September, Biden appeared to have a have similar stage mess up after giving an UN speech.
Biden appeared lost when he walked off stage after his remarks at the Global Fund Conference in New York before abruptly stopping, turning back and looking around in confusion
As applause ensued, the president began walking off the stage before abruptly stopping in his tracks and looking around with an appearance of confusion on his face.
He then seemed to ask people on the ground how to get off stage and did a few stuttering steps.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz called the scene 'terrifying' on Twitter, with his communications adviser Steve Guest adding in own own tweet: 'Joe Biden is completely lost on stage. Scary and sad.'
The clip of the awkward side-steps went viral on social media as another example of doubt regarding Biden's physical and mental fitness for the presidency.
Many don't think Biden is up for the job, with many being 'somewhat concerned' about the president's mental health.
Biden shot down criticisms that he is too old and mentally unfit to be president.
Biden tore into reporters asking questions in his departure from the White House to Pennsylvania on Thursday. The president called one reporter a 'kid' and told another to 'educate' themselves on Roe v. Wade
Biden jogged over to reporters for some staccato answers when leaving for a stop with Pennsylvania's Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman
'Some people think you are unfit for the job,' CBS correspondent Scott Pelley began, 'and when you hear that, I wonder what you think.'
'Watch me,' America's oldest president replied in September. 'Honest to God that's all I think.'
'If you think I don't have the energy level or the mental acuity, then you know, that's one thing,' he said. 'It's another thing, you know, just watch and, you know, keep my schedule. Do what I'm doing.'
He continued: 'I respect the fact that people would say, you know, 'You're old.' But I think it relates to how much energy you have and whether or not the job you're doing is one consistent with what any person of any age would be able to do.'
Many have also pointed to Biden's mishap in August when he struggled for nearly a minute trying to put on his suit jacket – and continued to have issues even with the help of first lady Jill Biden.
Biden also had an ugly mishap while bike riding during his Rehoboth Beach vacation in Delaware where he fell off his bike and crashed to the ground.
The president also fell to the ground off of his bike when on a ride in Rehoboth Beach in June
His many gaffes have caused many Republicans and even some Democrats to wonder if Biden is healthy to run for a second-term.
In addition, a recent poll showed 64 percent of Democratic voters were worried, as well.
Many American adults say they are either somewhat or very concerned about the president's mental wellbeing, according to a new Issue & Insights/TIPP Poll.
The figure is up five percent from the same survey done in August.
Almost all of the declining confidence in Biden's mental acuity came from his own party. In August, just 39 percent of Democratic respondents expressed concern – a figure that grew by 13 points to 52 percent in the latest poll.
The biggest difference in the two month gap between the polls is a speech celebrating a program aimed at ending hunger in the US where President Biden publicly tried to locate deceased Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, who tragically died in a car crash with two staffers in August.
The new poll shows that 15 percent of adults are 'not at all concerned' with Biden's mental health – and another 15 percent say they are 'not very concerned.' The overall figures of those without concern is down nine percent from August, when 39 percent of respondents said they weren't concerned with Biden's mental state.
In August, only two percent said they were not sure when it came to the president's mental fitness, but that figure grew to five percent in October – exhibiting a shift toward those who have doubts.
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