In an unexpected moment during a visit to the 9/11 memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, President Joe Biden was briefly seen wearing a “Trump 2024” campaign hat. This incident, captured on video, led to a surge of reactions online.
The incident happened at the Shanksville Fire Station, where President Biden went following his participation in a ceremony at the United Airlines Flight 93 memorial. Flight 93 was one of the four planes hijacked during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
President Biden, while addressing attendees at the station, humorously donned a Trump campaign hat given to him by a supporter of the former President. White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates later explained that Biden’s act was an attempt to demonstrate “bipartisan unity.”
Bates stated on X, “At the Shanksville Fire Station, @POTUS spoke about the country’s bipartisan unity after 9/11 and said we needed to get back to that.” He further elaborated that Biden’s acceptance of the hat from a Trump supporter was a gesture of goodwill in accordance with this sentiment.
The video footage of Biden wearing the red Trump hat generated significant attention on social media. Initially, some questioned the authenticity of the clip, suspecting it might have been altered or generated using artificial intelligence. However, conservative commentators, including writer Carmine Sabia, confirmed the footage to be genuine.
Several public figures also commented on the incident, often with a touch of humor. Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis, joked about Biden voting for Trump, while Will O’Grady, press secretary for Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt, quipped about the President potentially facing prosecution from his own Department of Justice.
The light-hearted exchange came against the backdrop of a solemn day of remembrance. Along with President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump attended several ceremonies to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks.
Throughout the day, Biden emphasized the importance of bipartisan unity, recalling the spirit of cooperation that emerged following the 9/11 attacks. The exchange of hats at the fire station was seen as a reflection of this sentiment, according to Bates.
The incident triggered diverse reactions. While some appreciated the gesture, others reacted with skepticism or humor. The event became a popular topic of discussion across various media platforms, with conservative political commentators and journalists like Piers Morgan sharing their views on the matter.
Despite the mixed reactions, the White House maintained that Biden’s decision to wear the hat was a deliberate demonstration of his commitment to bridging political divides. Bates further clarified that the President used the hat exchange as an opportunity to underscore the day’s theme of bipartisan unity.