Biden wanders off stage without shaking president's hand - leaving him irritated
Joe Biden appeared to wander offstage following a joint UN speech with Brazilian President Lula, without sharing a handshake with his counterpart leaving the other premiere looking visibly irritated.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 77, had joined Biden to speak about their respective efforts to improve workers' rights in each country. But the joint declaration of friendship between the two countries got off to a rocky start when Biden walked into a massive Brazilian flag as he walked on stage.
Biden, now 80, said that his vision "to rebuild our economy from the middle out, the bottom up, not the top down," was "powered by a strong labour movement."
As Lula started his portion of the speech, Biden had some problems with his headset, which was feeding a translated version of Lula's speech into his ear. Lula said: "Can you hear me, President Biden? This is a historical moment for Brazil and for the US. President Biden, can you hear me?"
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Biden gives a salute to the crowd while not giving Lula a handshake (X)There was clearly a little frustration from both Biden and Lula as the technical problems continued. The two were also joined by International Labor Organization Director General Gilbert Houngbo took to the podium after the two world leaders.
At the end of this follow up speech Biden shook hands with Mr Houngbo but turned away before shaking hands with Lula, instead giving the audience a little gesture and walks offstage. Seeing this Lula appeared a little annoyed and made a swiping gesture with his arm before leaving from an opposite side of the stage.
He leaves the stage before shaking Lula's hand (X)During the speeches the two steered clear in public about their differences on and other matters.
They announced a new partnership on supporting labour while avoiding openly discussing disagreements such as U.S. policy toward Cuba and ’s war in Ukraine, mere hours before Lula’s first-ever bilateral meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart. In remarks to reporters, Biden and Lula were eager to display their shared goals on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Biden fumbling with the earpiece (AFP via Getty Images)Biden sought to tie the meeting to domestic matters. Long a champion of labour unions, Biden is currently navigating strikes in the US by autoworkers, screenwriters and actors who are seeking better pay and protections in a changing global economy. He has declined the request by the United Auto Workers leader to join the picket line.“
When the middle does well, everybody does well,” Biden told Lula. “Working-class folks have a chance to move up. And the wealthy still do fine, as long as they pay their taxes.”
He even walked into the Brazilian flag as he arrived (AFP via Getty Images)Lula said he had never heard an American president speak so highly of workers and described their common cause as a chance to transform ties between the countries.
“This meeting here, for me, is more than a bilateral meeting; it is the rebirth of a new era in the relationship between the US and Brazil. It is a relationship of equals,” Lula said. He later described it as “a golden moment for us”.
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