On September 11, President Joe Biden was mocked by Republicans after he was photographed wearing a red "Trump 2024" cap during a visit to a fire station in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, writes Digi24.
The cap, associated with Donald Trump's election campaign, was worn over another hat Biden had on. A video posted on social media shows Biden smiling while wearing the pro-Trump cap.
The Trump campaign quickly seized on the moment. They posted on X (formerly Twitter), "BREAKING: Kamala did so badly in last night's debate that Joe Biden just put on a Trump hat," and added, "Thanks for the support Joe!"
Senior Trump campaign adviser Chris LaCivita also commented on the photo with, “What’s going on?”
The White House explained that Biden’s gesture was intended to promote unity on the 9/11 anniversary.
According to White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates, Biden wore the cap briefly after a Trump supporter at the fire station suggested it.
Bates said Biden’s action was meant to reflect the bipartisan spirit of unity seen after the 2001 attacks.
The incident occurred during a private meeting not open to the media and quickly went viral among Republicans.
Some used it to question Biden's mental fitness and his support for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden has often spoken about uniting the country despite his critiques of Trump.
Biden and Harris, along with Trump and Republican VP nominee Sen. JD Vance, attended a 9/11 memorial event in New York earlier that day.
