Watch: Biden appears to wander off at G7 and is pulled back by Meloni, White House says clip distorted

United States President Joe Biden appeared to be again caught in an awkward moment in a viral video when he was seen wandering off and was eventually called back by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for a group photo.

In the video, President Biden is seen wandering off amid a skydivingdemonstration at the G7 summitin southern Italy on Thursday (June 13) asMeloni brings him back towards the group.

The incident happened when the world leaders were appreciating the evening parachuting presentation.

The world leaders were looking in a different direction when the attention of the 81-year-old US president visibly wandered away. He appeared to move away from his fellow heads of government and probably said something to an officer who was packing a parachute.

Then, Meloni walked towards Biden in a backward direction while still facing the world leaders and touched the right arm of the president to let him know that he should rejoin the group.

Then, the rest of the leaders gathered around Biden and clicked a photograph for which the president wore his signature aviator sunglasses.

Social media questions Biden's actions

The Republican National Committee’s RNC Research X account highlighted the awkward momentwhile sharing the video of the moment with the all-caps inquiry: “WHAT IS BIDEN DOING?”

“As if Meloni doesn’t have enough on her hands, now she’s stuck playing chaperone to Grandpa Joe,” wrote National Review senior writer andoccasional Post columnistDan McLaughlin on X.

“The prime minister of another country had to go track him down and stop him from aimlessly wandering off. What an embarrassment," Outkick writer Ian Miller added.

White House defends Biden, says video 'distorted'

White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates defended President Biden and claimed that the video, which was widely circulated by wire services, had been distorted.

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“[Biden is] saying congratulations to one of the divers and giving a thumbs up," said Bates, on X.

Biden earlier met Meloni after arriving at the summit venue in the city of Fasano.

This is Biden's second visit to Europe after his recent trip to France where he participated in 80th anniversary commemorations of D-Day.

(With inputs from agencies)