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Truth behind video showing Biden 'checking watch' during ceremony for slain US troops revealed

Video goes viral showing Biden check his watch as 13 US service members killed in Kabul are brought home to Dover base in Delaware

President Joe Biden's gaffes and mistakes have become great fodder for his critics, and on August 29 he provided them with fresh ammunition. There are claims making the rounds that the President checked his watch, while he was at Dover Air Force Base to mark the 'dignified transfer' of the 13 US service members killed in Kabul on August 26. Well, we now have video footage to support their claims, and it doesn't paint a good picture of the President.

Biden has been struggling to fend off attacks from his critics in recent weeks, as the Afghanistan debacle has only gotten worse. The mother of one of the marines killed called the president a ''feckless piece of crap' during a radio show. On August 26, Biden appeared to break down during a press conference, a photo that quickly went viral and led Donald Trump Jr. to dub it a sign of "weakness". Conspiracy theorists also had a field day the same day, when Biden said "I was instructed" to call on reporters. 

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The latest round of criticism comes after Biden's actions at Dover AFB, which have led to several tweets by Republicans. We thought it was necessary to fact check, since the last time the GOP criticized Biden (during his August 27 meeting with the Israeli PM), it turned out to be fake. So did Biden really check his watch? It appears as if this time, his critics may have actually got one right.

Did Biden check his watch?

The controversy stems from Biden's actions during the return of the bodies of the 13 service members killed in Afghanistan. As the coffins were carried past him at the base, the president stood with his right hand on his chest. Shortly after the coffins went past him, Biden appeared to lift his left hand up and look at his watch. It was just a quick glance, but many eagle-eyed users on social media spotted the movement as videos went viral.

Based on numerous footage of the event, it appears that Biden did really check his watch. As you can see in the below tweet, Biden quickly flicked his wrist to grab a look while next to Jill Biden during the ceremony, before putting his hands behind his back. Journalist Nicholas Fondacaro noted, "It's true. Joe Biden checked his watch during the dignified transfer of the servicemembers killing in Afghanistan at the airport. You can see him jerk his left hand to pull the watch out from under his sleeve, then look down at it."  

The moment led to a massive slew of criticism against Biden, not just from the Republican party, but also veterans. After the ceremony, Biden and Jill spent some time with the families of the fallen. The couple was accompanied to the ceremony by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and the heads of the military. 

'Avoidable death boring you Joe?'

"Make this trend: The Man Responsible for the death's of 13 soldiers checks his watch while the soldiers caskets are being carried into the trucks right in front of him Apparently Joe Biden had better things to be doing Disgusting," one person tweeted. Another asked, "Did Joe Biden just check his watch? All of this avoidable death boring you, Joe?"

One conservative pundit said, "I remember when I was told that Joe Biden was Mr. Empathy. Looks to me like he’s an uncaring, self-centered politician who sent people to their deaths and he’s looking at his watch because he can’t wait to get out of there." Another tweeted, "Did I really just watch Joe Biden fake empathy then immediately after callously check his watch - while attending the Dover Air Force Base’s ceremony for the 13 marines who died in Afghanistan?" Another user slammed, "Biden checks his watch as fallen troops are carried off the aircraft. Guess he would rather be somewhere else or maybe he is wondering how long until bedtime."

The visit to Dover AFB was unscheduled according to reports. The President, FLOTUS, and others first went inside the C-17 Globemaster, where they spent a few minutes praying before they came outside for the transfer. The coffins were loaded onto smaller vehicles, where after positive identification will be taken to their final resting place.