WASHINGTON, DC: Social media users have called out Joe Biden following his controversial decision not to attend the 22nd anniversary of 9/11 at one of the three crash sites which prompted Vice President Kamala Harris to step in at the Ground Zero ceremony in New York on Monday, September 11.
The families of the victims were left enraged as the 80-year-old spent two hours at Joint Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska with service members and first responders on his way home from a 24-hour trip to Vietnam.
He also becomes the first president to not visit Manhattan, the Pentagon, or Shanksville, Pennsylvania to remember the deadliest terror attack on the country.
Who else attended the event?
In the absence of Biden, the White House sent Harris to mark the 22nd anniversary at Ground Zero in New York instead.
Besides Harris, former New York City Mayors Rudy Giuliani, who was the mayor during the time of the attacks, and Mike Bloomberg were spotted at the service on Monday morning.
Another former NYC Mayor, Bill de Blasio, was also present at the ceremony.
Although Harris interacted with Bloomberg and de Blasio in New York City on Monday, she seemingly avoided Trump ally Giuliani.
She was also spotted speaking to New York Governor Kathy Hochul and the state's Attorney General Letitia James on the same day.
Why was Joe Biden unable to attend the ceremony?
According to Daily Mail, Biden had to spend a couple of hours in Alaska as he stopped for refueling on his way back from Vietnam and India.
He also held a bizarre press conference in Vietnam on Monday which was abruptly cut short by a White House staffer Karine Jean-Pierre, leaving many in the audience puzzled.
“We talked about stability, we talked about making sure the third world... excuse me... the southern hemisphere has access to change. It wasn’t confrontational at all,” the president said as his voice weakened.
His press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre cut in, "Thank you, everybody. This ends the press conference. Thanks, everyone.”
Biden made his exit from the stage before his microphone muted suddenly and the speakers started to play jazz music while he continued to address reporters unaware that he was inaudible.
“I’m going to go to bed,” the president said.
X users react to Joe Biden's snub
Infuriated internet users lashed out at President Biden after he snubbed the ceremony.
One user wrote, "He can not perform his duties as president of the USA. He needs to give up this office. He is extremely disrespectful."
Another opined, "More meaningful to have President Trump and Mayor Giuliani there representing America."
One user tweeted, "The most corrupt disgraceful administration in the history of our democracy" while another echoed, "I don’t think he wanted to face an angry audience that’s sick of his so called leadership."
"They sent Kamala. Joe is fixing to get replaced. Jill's gonna be furious", wrote one.
