Joe Biden Appears To Doze Off At African Summit, Internet Says 'He Does Not Care'

Last Updated:December 06, 2024, 12:42 IST

Joe Biden was captured with his eyes closed during a summit in Angola, sparking online speculation about whether he dozed off. The incident has reignited debates over Biden's age.

Biden appears to rest his eyes during a summit with African leaders in Lobito, Angola (Photo: Reuters)

US President Joe Biden appeared to be dozing off while at a summit with African leaders during his recent visit to Lobito, Angola. Seated in the middle of a table with various officials from African countries, the 82-year-old outgoing President was captured closing his eyes and resting his head while Tazania’s Vice President Philip Mpango spoke.

Videos of Biden keeping his eyes closed for a longer duration were being widely shared on social media.

According to Fox News, Biden’s eyes remained closed for more than a minute.

Moments before, he was active, giving out his remarks at the summit.

However, a spokesperson for the Security Council denied that Biden dozed off.

“The President was awake during the conversation and did not fall asleep. He was simply listening to his counterpart’s remarks," the spokesperson was quoted by Fox News as saying.

Joe Biden has had a series of verbal slip-ups during many of his speeches, and even during the first presidential debate opposite US President-elect Donald Trump, thus raising concerns that he was too old to run for re-election.

Meanwhile, several X users commented on the viral videos.

“Joe Biden fell asleep during a meeting with African leaders today. He’s sharp as a tack though! Honestly, this feels intentional. Who puts an 82 year old on a plane for a THREE DAY trip to Africa?! Three days! So dumb," (sic), an X user wrote.

“That’s outrageous! So disrespectful. Why is this man still in office at all? He should be immediately removed from his position," another one wrote.

“It’s completely disrespectful to every other person in that meeting," a third user wrote.

“He’s out he doesn’t care," someone wrote.

WHY WAS JOE BIDEN IN ANGOLA?

Biden met African leaders in the Angolan port of Lobito on December 4 to advance a plan to extend a railway that could channel critical minerals from Congo and Zambia to the West via Lobito, and counter Chinese clout in the region.

As things stand, China is the main foreign player in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mining sector, which exports minerals considered critical for batteries and other industrial components key to transitioning away from fossil fuels.

The United States has provided a $550 million loan to support the Lobito venture, which involves refurbishing an existing railway through Angola and extending it into Congo’s mining heartland as part of the first phase.

No date has been given for its completion yet, while a second phase that would link Lobito to Zambia via a new railway line is still at the preparation stage, with an aim to break ground in 2026 according to Washington.

The presidents of Angola, Congo and Zambia and the Vice President of Tanzania joined Biden for the summit in Lobito on the last day of his first and only trip to Africa as President.

Biden and Congo’s Felix Tshisekedi affirmed their commitment to promoting investment and peace to allow the central African nation to make the most of its vast mineral wealth, according to a note from the White House issued after the two met.

News world Joe Biden Appears To Doze Off At African Summit, Internet Says 'He Does Not Care'