Strange pic of Joe Biden sends Internet into a tizzy, draws bizarre Peter Griffin comparisons
WASHINGTON, DC: A bizarre image of President Joe Biden has taken the Internet by storm, raising concerns about his health and fitness for a second term as President. Many have also humorously drawn comparisons to the popular animated character, Peter Griffin, from 'Family Guy'.
The 80-year-old President of the United States has been no stranger to speculation regarding his health, given his frequent stumbles, falls, and gaffes, interpreted as signs of cognitive decline.
Biden's photo from unflattering angle shows '3 chins'
The photograph in question, initially shared by political consultant Chuck Callesto on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), depicts President Biden with a bloated face and an uneasy expression.
What has caused quite a stir, though, is the apparent presence of multiple chins, a feature that is somewhat unusual from the angle captured by the photo.
Callesto accompanied the image with the caption, "Can anyone explain why today all of a sudden JOE BIDEN has 3 chins?"
Can anyone explain why today all the sudden JOE BIDEN has 3 chins? pic.twitter.com/YUFlBu7Z5p
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) October 19, 2023
Biden compared to Peter Griffin from 'Family Guy'
As mentioned, the post triggered a flurry of memes and comparisons to Peter Griffin from 'Family Guy.'
Meanwhile, many hilariously chalked it up to some kind of a "mask malfunction."
"The mask just doesn’t fit right all the time," one quipped.
"The mask is losing its elasticity…" another wrote.
"Modern latex masks are great, until it gets hot," someone else quipped.
"Mask. Actors. They make a great movie," a comment read.
"Glitch in the Matrix," another added.
Medical experts concerned about Biden's fitness
Medical experts have not shied away from expressing their concerns about President Biden's fitness for a second term, given his age and the visible signs of cognitive impairment and physical limitations.
There is a growing fear that the stress associated with another presidency could potentially worsen his condition and increase the risk of 'on-screen' accidents, denting the presidential aura.
Biden's first term as president has been marked by a series of high-profile gaffes and incidents, including stumbling up the steps of Air Force One and falling off his bike in Delaware.
His annual physical examination revealed that he suffers from several conditions, including a heart condition that causes rapid heartbeats, leading to dizziness and confusion.
Additionally, President Biden has a history of two brain aneurysms, making his health a matter of serious concern.
Dr Elena Mucci, a geriatric doctor and member of the American College of Physicians, spoke out against the idea of President Biden campaigning for a second term.
"If I was his geriatrician, I would discourage him from campaigning. I'd strongly advocate against it," she told the Daily Mail in April. Biden would be 86 years old towards the end of his second stint as President, were he to be elected again.
"If you were to survey healthcare professionals, geriatricians, cardiologists, I don't think you will find a single physician who would say it's a good thing for an 86-year-old with the symptoms he's demonstrated to us already to become a president, both for the sake of his own health and for the sake of his country," Mucci said.
Biden's history of atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat condition dating back to 2003, has required him to take the blood thinner apixaban (Eliquis) to manage the heart condition.
"If you open any medical book, one of the symptoms [of atrial fibrillation] is tiredness. That will limit his activity, and not just limit his activity — he physically might not be able to perform all his duties. It's just impossible with these conditions at that age," Mucci added.
Biden's medicines carry risks from side effects
Dr Stuart Fischer, an internal medicine physician in New York, highlighted the increased risk not only from atrial fibrillation but also from the side effects of the medications he is on.
"The increased risk is not only from the fibrillation but from secondary effects from the medicine. These people take blood thinners and when people take these drugs, they are at risk for internal bleeding or serious consequences from a fall," he told the outlet.
President Biden's health issues are a topic of concern for many Americans.
A poll conducted by the Associated Press in April found that just 26 percent of Americans, including 47 percent of Democrats, want Biden to run for a second term. Interviews with poll respondents indicated that the main concern was his age.