President Joe Biden has left people online rather divided after he was recorded offering a young teen some dating advice.
credit: MediaPunch Inc / Alamy
The footage – which has since gone viral on social media – was captured on Friday, with Twitter user Kalen D’Almeida saying that he recorded the video after the 79-year-old POTUS spoke at the Irvine Valley Community College in California.
The New York Post reports that after Biden had discussed his administration’s plans to reduce inflation and lower drug costs, he opted to pose for photos with fans.
In one video, he can be seen standing behind a young girl, with his hand on her shoulder. After taking a photo with her, he can be seen leaning in and telling her: “Now a very important thing I told my daughters and granddaughters — no serious guys until you’re 30.”
The young girl replies: “Ok… I’ll keep that in mind.”
A report on the moment can be seen below:
According to US reporter Kinsey Schofield, the teen is believed to be 17 years old.
D’Almeida – who describes himself as a reporter for Frontlines With Drew Hernandez – shared the video to Twitter on October 15, where it has since amassed more than 5 million views. In his tweet, the reporter claimed that members of the “secret service” allegedly attempted to prevent him from recording the moment.
In response to the clip, there were many who criticized the President for offering “unsolicited dating advice”, per the New York Post’s headline.
“Anyone says or does what our President just did that at their job [your] fired within 24 hours,” one person replied.
A second added: “I’m sorry but that is not presidential. It’s freaking creepy!!!!!”
However, other social media users rushed to Biden’s defence, with one person tweeting: “He sounds like he is looking out for the girl. Telling her to take her time.. Nothing wrong with this film. I think she was confused of the statement at first cause he had to say it twice.”
A second added: “This is being blown out of proportion. Any young adult gets embarrassed/awkward when talking about things like dating. He’s from an older generation, I don’t see the problem w/ a hand on a shoulder.”
Biden’s line of “no serious guys until you’re 30” is actually something he has been recorded saying to young girls in the past. In the video below, he can be seen saying “no dates until you’re 30” multiple times:
And during a visit to a Philadelphia elementary school earlier this year, Biden once again told the students: “The only thing I want you girls to remember, no serious guys until you’re 30.”