During a speech on Tuesday, former President Joe Biden playfully acknowledged a tall, slender African-American man in the audience, humorously comparing him to “Barack.” The moment happened while Biden was visiting Syracuse University School of Law, one of his alma maters, for a portrait unveiling, and it quickly gained attention online.
Amid his address, Biden, 83, spotted the man and said, “Barack? What are you doing?” inviting him over multiple times. The individual in question was actually Jeff Scruggs, the chairman of Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees, who had been seated by Biden throughout the event.
Scruggs approached the former President, prompting Biden to joke further, “I feel like he should be standing to the right and I should be standing to the left. Doesn’t he look like Barack?” This light-hearted exchange highlighted Biden’s sense of humor and the camaraderie present at the gathering.
The man in question was Jeff Scruggs, the chairman of Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees, who had been seated onstage next to the former President for the entirety of the program.
He sidled up to the former President.
‘I feel like he should be standing to the right and I should be standing to the left,’ Biden then said. ‘Doesn’t he look like Barack?’
The audience and Scruggs shared a laugh.
Online MAGA commenters – always on the lookout for a Biden gaffe – called the interaction ‘cringe’ and suggested the ex-President, a white man, played into the stereotype of thinking that every black person looked like former President Barack Obama.
Behind the scenes, the Daily Mail has learned there was more to the story.
Former President Joe Biden (left) called Jeff Scruggs (right), the chairman of Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees to his side on Tuesday during a portrait unveiling ceremony to tell him he looked like ‘Barack’
Two sources familiar with the matter said that backstage, Scruggs had told Biden that his daughter wanted him to ask the ex-President if he looked like Obama.
The display onstage was meant to show that Biden believed that he did.
Still, throughout his presidency, Biden was known for his gaffes.
In one remarkable moment, he asked, ‘Where’s Jackie?’ about Representative Jackie Walorski, who had died in a car accident a month before.
The 2022 incident was only made more confounding when White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Biden made the mention because Walorski was ‘top of mind.’
In 2024, Biden also pushed that his uncle had been eaten by cannibals during World War II – with Jean-Pierre unable to explain that statement either.
Biden abandoned his 2024 reelection bid after a poor performance in a debate against former President Donald Trump – who was reelected that November after beating Vice President Kamala Harris, who took Biden’s place as the Democratic nominee.
Americans had long stated in public opinion polling that they had concerns about the Democratic President’s old age.
Two sources familiar told the Daily Mail that Jeff Scruggs (right), the chairman of Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees, had told former President Joe Biden (left) backstage that his daughter wanted him to ask the former President if he resembled Barack Obama
Now in his retirement, Biden has continued to make public appearances – and has been spotted flying commercial and riding on Amtrak trains.
The Daily Mail reported last month that he’s continued to advise elected Democrats and Democratic candidates over the phone.
He called Emily Gregory, the Democratic winner of a Florida state House district that encompasses Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, the day after her victory in what had previously been a long-held GOP district.
Biden also reached out to Texas state Representative James Talarico, the winner of the Texas Democratic Senate race last month.
But Biden, who is being treated for Stage 4 prostate cancer, has yet to appear at any campaign rallies for Democratic candidates going into the November midterms.
