Did joe bide ever snift kids

Checked on January 6, 2026
Disclaimer: Factually can make mistakes. Please verify important information or breaking news. Learn more.

Executive summary

The viral claim that President Joe Biden “sniffed” a baby — presented as him aggressively smelling a child on camera — is demonstrably false in the most-circulated instance: the clip was edited, zoomed and had sniffing sounds added to create that impression [1] [2] [3]. At the same time, a pattern of awkward, close interactions captured in other videos has fueled public concern and partisan exploitation, and credible reporting shows the conversation cannot be reduced to a single provable campaign of “sniffing kids.” The evidence distinguishes altered clips from genuine footage and separates social-media theatrics from verified misconduct allegations [3] [4] [5].

1. The most viral “sniffing” clip is edited — not proof of intentional wrongdoing

Multiple independent fact-checkers examined the rapid spread of a clip purportedly showing Biden loudly sniffing a baby and concluded the broadcast version was digitally manipulated: the original footage filmed by the child’s mother was cut short, zoomed in and had sniffing sounds added, creating a deceptive narrative that did not exist in the unedited recording [1] [2] [3] [4]. Reuters and the AP both report the mother filmed the original and that the added audio and edits materially changed viewers’ perception of Biden’s interaction [3] [2].

2. Unedited footage shows close, sometimes awkward interactions that feed the story

There are genuine, unaltered clips of Biden leaning toward children, placing his face near hair or shoulders, and making playful gestures — moments that, when isolated, some viewers interpret as inappropriate and others as benign familial affection or comic playfulness [6] [7]. Newsweek and other outlets note that critics point to a pattern of such interactions, and these genuine moments are what opponents and social-media users often amplify when stitching together a broader narrative [5].

3. Historical allegations and context complicate public perception

Beyond viral videos, Biden has faced earlier public allegations that changed how such footage is received: for example, prior reporting referenced an accusation by former Nevada Assemblywoman Lucy Flores about smelling her hair and an allegation by Tara Reade about sexual misconduct, both of which have been part of media coverage and political debate [5] [8]. Those prior controversies are distinct from the manipulated 2023 clip but explain why viewers are primed to believe and spread claims about “sniffing.”

4. Partisan incentives drive amplification and distortion

Fact-checks show that altered clips are circulated with inflammatory captions and were weaponized by partisan accounts to delegitimize Biden, with fabricated “sniffing” audio and selective editing boosting virality [3] [1]. At the same time, conservative commentators and campaign opponents reuse both genuine awkward moments and edited content to suggest a pattern; fact-checkers and mainstream outlets have repeatedly called out edited material while noting real clips are used to stoke outrage [2] [5].

5. What the reporting supports — and what it does not

The reporting conclusively supports two points: that at least one widely shared “Biden sniffing a baby” clip was digitally edited to add sniffing noises and mislead viewers [1] [3] [4], and that there exist multiple filmed moments of Biden in close proximity to children that some see as inappropriate [6] [7]. What the available sources do not prove is a systematic pattern of sexually predatory behavior toward children; fact-checkers emphasize altered evidence and distinguish legitimate allegations from manipulated social-media memes [2] [4]. Allegations of past inappropriate touching or smelling have been reported and debated in political and legal contexts, but the sources here do not establish criminal conduct based solely on the viral “sniffing” edits [8] [5].

Conclusion: answer to the question posed

Did Joe Biden ever “sniff” kids? The strongest claim — that he was caught on camera aggressively sniffing a baby — is false for the most prominent viral clip because it was edited to add sniffing sounds and remove context [1] [2] [3]. However, multiple legitimate unedited videos show Biden in close, sometimes awkward proximity to children, and past allegations about his behavior toward adults have shaped public interpretation; those genuine clips and historical claims prompt debate but are not proof that he systematically “sniffs kids” as the edited memes assert [6] [5] [8].

Want to dive deeper?
What unedited video evidence exists of Joe Biden interacting with children and what do fact-checkers say about each clip?
How have digitally altered political videos been identified and debunked in recent U.S. elections?
What is the history and outcome of public allegations against Joe Biden regarding inappropriate touching or smelling of people’s hair?