President-elect Donald Trump returned to the White House on Wednesday for a friendly fireside meeting with President Joe Biden that sparked a wild theory.
‘Welcome. Welcome back,’ Biden said to Trump, referring to him as the ‘president-elect’ and ‘former president,’ and promising to work with his political rival for a smooth transition of power.
The two leaders met in front of a roaring fire in the Oval Office, as they exchanged pleasantries.
After they shook hands, Biden grinned broadly, and his smile triggered widespread reaction on social media, with some suggesting it could have deeper meaning.
The two leaders met in front of a roaring fire in the Oval Office, as they exchanged pleasantries
‘Joe Biden shares the same smile that most of AMERICA has right now,’ wrote combat veteran and former Republican candidate for Congress Sean Parnell on X.
‘Everyone is psyched for Trump to be back in the White House,’ he went on.
Other users started to float a far-fetched idea that Biden’s happiness is evidence that he actually secretly voted for his political nemesis.
‘Biden totally voted for Trump,’ agreed Nicole Arbour on X, sharing a laughing emoji.
‘Biden looks so happy,’ agreed Jaimee Michell on X.com, sharing a laughing emoji. ‘This man definitely voted for Trump.’
‘Biden voted Trump,’ wrote Joey Mannarino.
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Joey Mannarino / X.com
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Afshine Emrani agreed.
‘I’m telling you. Biden and his family voted for Trump,’ he wrote.
Social media user ‘Johnny maga’ compared Biden’s broad smile to a more solemn photo of Biden and Harris from earlier in the week at an event honoring Veterans Day.
‘Biden definitely voted for Trump, wrote ‘borovik’ on social media. ‘Look how happy he looks.’
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After the pair shook hands, Biden grinned broadly
‘Nobody can convince me that Biden didn’t vote for Trump agreed Alexandra Lains.
Biden was in the unusual position of greeting the man who both preceded him, and will replace him, in the White House.
Trump won in a landslide on November 5, taking the popular vote and Electoral College, and sweeping the seven key swing states.
Trump thanked Biden and adopted a noticeably different tone than he had on the campaign trail.
‘Politics is tough,’ the president-elect said. ‘In many cases it is not a nice world, but it is a nice world today.’
Trump said of the transition process: ‘It will be as smooth as it can get and I very much appreciate that, Joe.’
Melania Trump was not with her husband. But first lady Jill Biden joined President Biden in greeting Trump upon his arrival to the White House.
She gave the president-elect a handwritten letter of congratulations for Melania, which also expressed her team’s readiness to assist with the transition.