US President Joe Biden faced criticism for an awkward salute to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni upon his arrival at the G7 Summit on Thursday. The incident, captured on camera, sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with some questioning Biden's awareness and others defending his gestures. Biden, 81, arrived in Italy amidst ongoing scrutiny over his mental and physical acuity, heightened during his re-election campaign. The G7 Summit, gathering leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, focuses on global security and economic issues.
Here's What Happened
As Biden approached the stage where Meloni awaited, he was the last foreign leader to arrive at the venue in southern Puglia. Following a brief exchange of words, Meloni directed Biden's attention to a frame bearing the G7 logo, which all leaders had signed.
In a moment captured by cameras, Biden raised his right hand towards his eye in a salute gesture towards Meloni before stepping away from the platform.
Meloni, visibly unfazed by the incident, continued engaging with other international leaders throughout the summit, which also addressed pressing global issues including the Ukraine crisis.
Check Out The Viral Video Here
Social media quickly amplified the moment, with videos of the salute circulating widely. While some criticised Biden's gesture as inappropriate or out of touch, others interpreted it as a sign of respect towards the Italian PM.
A user joked, "Did Girogia Meloni join the US Military and no one told us? Why did Biden just salute her?" In response, one user defended Biden's gesture, suggesting it was informal and akin to a thumbs-up gesture.
Others, however, expressed more critical views, with one commenter noting, "He doesn't know where he is".