A clip of President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden having a tense conversation at Ethel Kennedy’s funeral has sparked a number of theories on social media.
Video of the lively interaction went viral Wednesday during the service for the Kennedy family’s 96-year-old Matraicah.
Bill Clinton’s comments calling Robert Kennedy’s late widow a “cat’s meow” shocked viewers.
But it was the conversation captured by CSPAN between Obama and Biden at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Cathedral in Washington, DC, that sparked a flurry of activity on social media.
No audio was captured except for the church organ blaring, but social media users were immediately curious about the nature of their conversation.
US President Joe Biden (L) speaks with former President Barack Obama (R) before Ethel Kennedy’s memorial service.
Biden turned and spoke to Obama as the former president crossed his arms and shook his head as he responded to Biden and emphasized his point with hand gestures.
At one point, Obama even attempted to turn his back on Biden, prompting Biden to reach out and touch his arm.
Biden and Obama were joined at the funeral by former President Bill Clinton, who sat next to them.
The funeral is the first time Obama and Biden have met since the current president abandoned his re-election campaign and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.
The conversation appears to have been interrupted by Clinton, who looked at them and pointed toward the front of the cathedral.
US President Joe Biden (L), along with former presidents Barack Obama (center) and Bill Clinton (right), attend a memorial service for Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert F. Kennedy, at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington. DC
One X.com user said she reached out to some of her deaf coworkers on Facebook to see if she could get information about what they were saying.
“Obama says ‘No’ then shakes his head and says ‘Not okay,'” he wrote. “Hopefully they’re talking about Kamala’s campaign LOL.”
Another user shared a similar observation on X.com.
“I couldn’t understand what Biden said to Obama, but the beginning of Obama’s response was, ‘No, no… (nods, no, then says) he’s gone,'” he wrote. “The “The look on Obama’s face is sinister, and Biden’s is one of shock.”
