This is the bizarre moment Joe Biden told the daughter of a released prisoner: “No serious guys until you’re 30” while awkwardly wrapping his member around her.
The president led a rendition of Happy Birthday to the girl who turned 13 on Friday in front of a room full of relatives of freed Americans.
In the footage, Biden tells the room: “Tomorrow is a big day, the 13th birthday of Miriam (Butorin),” who is the daughter of Alsu Kurmasheva, one of the hostages freed in a historic prisoner exchange.
As he reaches out his hand to draw her towards him, he asks his audience to join him in singing Happy Birthday to the young girl.
“As you all know, we have a tradition in the Biden family: we sing Happy Birthday,” he said.
President Joe Biden sings happy birthday to Miriam Butorin after delivering a speech on a prisoner swap with Russia from the White House State Dining Room
Miriam Butorin wipes away tears at White House event
Biden gave some dating advice for life after the song, saying, “And remember, don’t get involved with serious guys until you’re 30. God loves you.”
After the song, she gave the teenager some awkward advice: “And remember, no serious guys until you’re 30. God loves you.”
Miriam quickly burst into tears as Biden wrapped his arm around her, causing her to giggle nervously on the floor as she wiped her eyes.
Biden, who has not been seen publicly since Tuesday, made a surprise appearance in the White House State Dining Room just hours after the historic deal that freed former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist.
The US president had earlier confirmed that negotiations had resulted in the release of 16 people, including five Germans and eight Russian citizens.
They have all been detained in Russia since 2018, “for no legitimate reason, none,” Biden said. “And now their brutal ordeal is over and they are free.”
The US had also coordinated the release of Russian criminals, including Vadim Krasikov, known as the “bicycle killer” who killed a Georgian citizen in Berlin in 2019.
In response to a question from DailyMail.com, the president defended the release of Krasikov, who was serving a life sentence in Germany.
Asked how he weighed the decision to release the hitman who got away with murder, Biden said: “I brought innocent people home.”
Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich is among those released from prison in Russia
Biden positioned family members behind him for the event, where he read prepared remarks and answered a series of questions from reporters, as the White House says he is “recalibrating” his role now that he is not seeking reelection.
“They never gave up hope. I can’t imagine what they’ve been through,” she said.
He invoked his own deceased son, Beau, as he tried to describe what they were facing.
“Family is the beginning, the middle and the end,” he said.
The president said it “says a lot” about American values that the United States has also pushed for the release of Russian dissidents detained inside the country.
He said they would not be free to “live safely abroad” and could continue working to promote democracy in Russia “if they so choose.”
Biden focused much of his remarks on the freed Americans, who also included Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian-British journalist and dissident who also took part in the exchange.
He referred to the quartet by their first names.
“This deal would not have been possible without our allies,” Biden said.
On Thursday, Biden hailed the deal as a “diplomatic feat” that shows there are good allies making “bold and courageous decisions.”
The statement came just two weeks after Biden dropped out of the presidential race following strong criticism over his age and abilities.
He has since been replaced by his vice president, Kamala Harris.