President Joe Biden’s recent trip to Normandy, France, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day has been overshadowed by the circulation of misleading videos on social media. These videos, which have been shared widely and picked up by right-leaning outlets, aim to portray Biden as mentally and physically unfit for office. This tactic of spinning real moments to create negative impressions of political opponents has become increasingly powerful in the age of social media.
The first video in question, which falsely claimed Biden was reaching for a nonexistent chair, gained significant attention on social media. This was followed by two more out-of-context or trimmed videos that further fueled the narrative of Biden’s incompetence. Experts predict that both Republicans and Democrats will continue to use such tactics to label each other’s presidential candidates as weak, confused, or senile, especially considering Biden’s age of 78 and Trump’s age of 81.
These misleading videos have been effective in activating concerns about Biden’s competency, given his status as the oldest sitting president in U.S. history and his visible difficulty in movement. However, Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, has stated that he is fit for duty and that his stiffness is due to arthritic changes in his spine. He has shown no signs of serious health conditions.
The circulation of these videos has been iterative, with social media influencers and campaigns piling on one another. The Republican National Committee (RNC) posted a cropped video of Biden at the G7 summit in Italy, captioning it with the question, “What is Biden doing?” This post was then shared by right-leaning media outlets, both in the United States and abroad.
The Biden campaign has responded by attacking Trump through its rapid response account on the social media platform X. Both sides are expected to aggressively target concerns about each other’s age and fitness for office.
Experts caution that most voters are unlikely to switch candidates based on misleading videos. However, such misinformation can further entrench people in their beliefs or dampen their enthusiasm to participate in the political process. The upcoming debate between Trump and Biden will likely put pressure on both candidates to demonstrate their health, sharpness, and fitness for the presidency.
In conclusion, the circulation of misleading videos has become a powerful tool in politics, particularly in the age of social media. While these videos may not sway voters, they can reinforce existing perceptions and narratives. As the 2024 election approaches, voters can expect both Republicans and Democrats to continue weaponizing out-of-context moments to attack each other’s presidential candidates.