BAD OLD ‘DAZE’ FOR JOE
Bezos and babe bounce into House
Confused at WH event
President Biden raised eyebrows Wednesday morning when he appeared disoriented while welcoming Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to the White House for a state visit. Biden, 81, and Kishida, 66, greeted one another before shaking the hands of members of both the US and Japanese delegations on the South Lawn. The leaders then mounted a stage for the national anthems of both countries, before reviewing US military honor guards.
Ahead of the review, Biden and Kishida were greeted with a salute by a military aide. The president began to raise his right hand to return the salute, then dropped it as the aide directed the two leaders where to stand.
Biden seemed to gaze around with a blank look on his face before putting on his signature aviator sunglasses and marching across the lawn. During the review, the president’s gait was noticeably stiff and his steps appeared tentative and uncertain. Eventually, Biden and Kishida made their way back to the podium and delivered remarks, in which the president proclaimed the link between Washington and Tokyo was “closer, stronger and more effective than ever before in history.”
Biden thanked Japan for the gift of 3,000 cherry trees over a century ago that have become an iconic symbol of Washington, DC, and briefly acknowledged the “devastating” conflict between the two allies as part of World War II.
Rather than being perpetual enemies, Biden said, the US and Japan “made a far better choice: We became the closest of friends.”
Following their remarks, the two men descended the stage, with Biden cutting in front of Kishida to grab a railing for assistance.
Later on Wednesday night, Biden hosted Bill and Hillary Clinton alongside billionaire tech titans for a state dinner to honor Kishida.
The Clintons and actor Robert De Niro joined the head table in the White House East Room, where more than 200 guests dined on housecured salmon and dry-aged rib-eye steak.
Billionaire Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos and Apple CEO Tim Cook sat at tables nearby.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen were also toward the center of the room.
“We both remember the choices that were made to forge a friendship,” Biden, 81, said during his toast to Kishida. “We both remember the hard work, what it has done to find healing. Tonight, we pledge to keep going.”
Others attending the lavish celebration included Olympic champion figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, World Bank President Ajay Banga and United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain.