What faux pas were made by Biden in the UK
This fact-check may be outdated. Consider refreshing it to get the most current information.
Was this fact-check helpful?
1. Summary of the results
The claims regarding President Biden's faux pas in the UK are inconsistent across different sources. Some sources, such as [1] and [1], suggest that President Biden did not break protocol when greeting King Charles III with a tactile gesture, holding his arm and touching his back, at Windsor Castle [1]. However, other sources, such as [2], report that President Biden broke royal protocol by walking ahead of King Charles and touching his back, which is considered a breach of etiquette [2]. Additionally, sources [3] and [3] suggest that President Biden might have broken royal protocol by wearing his signature sunglasses to meet the Queen, as eye contact is considered important when meeting the monarch [3]. It is also worth noting that sources [4], [5], and [6] discuss President Biden's gaffes in general, including introducing Ukraine's President Zelensky as 'President Putin' and referring to his Vice-President Kamala Harris as 'Vice-President Trump', which may undermine his campaign [4], but these gaffes are not specifically related to his visit to the UK.
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
A key point missing from the original statement is the context of President Biden's actions and the intent behind them. For example, sources [1] and [1] provide context that the tactile gesture between President Biden and King Charles III was mutually respectful and the king was 'entirely comfortable' with it [1]. On the other hand, sources [2] and [5] suggest that President Biden's actions, such as walking ahead of King Charles and making gaffes, may be seen as breaches of etiquette or signs of incompetence [2] [5]. Alternative viewpoints, such as the idea that President Biden's actions were well-intentioned but misinterpreted, are also not considered in the original statement. Furthermore, the sources [4], [5], and [6] provide a broader context of President Biden's gaffes, which may be relevant to understanding his overall performance as a leader [4] [5] [6].
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original statement may be misleading or biased as it implies that President Biden made significant faux pas in the UK without providing clear evidence or context. Sources [1] and [1], which suggest that President Biden did not break protocol, may be downplayed or ignored in favor of more sensational reports of breaches of etiquette [2] [3]. The sources [4], [5], and [6], which discuss President Biden's gaffes in general, may be used to support a narrative that President Biden is incompetent or unfit to serve, which may benefit his political opponents [4] [5] [6]. On the other hand, sources [1] and [1], which suggest that President Biden did not break protocol, may benefit President Biden and his supporters by providing a more positive narrative of his actions [1].