It was their first meeting since the rough transition of power. The meeting was supposed to show how bipartisanship can work, but it turned funny out of the blue, which caught everyone off guard.
The meeting was part of a larger attempt to bring people together before they talk about policy again. Biden tried to make peace and improve communication by inviting Trump and other past presidents to a private luncheon. Trump eager to make his presence felt, Trump accepted the invitation, even though Melania Trump couldn’t go because she had other plans [2].
When Trump arrived, the mood was polite but tense. However, Biden’s quick and smart move quickly eased the stress. As soon as Trump extended his hand, Biden took out a pair of big aviator sunglasses and put them on, copying Trump’s way. The room burst out in laughter, and Secret Service officers and their assistants cracked smiles. “I figured I’d borrow your look for the day, Don!” Biden made a joke.
The shocked Trump laughed and said, “Not bad, Joe, but I think I pull it off better.” This funny conversation set the tone for the rest of the talk, which made things less tense and more useful.
Experts said Biden’s move wasn’t just a joke; it was a conscious attempt to make their conversation more personal. By making fun of Trump’s “superhero” image, Biden showed that he could talk to his political opponent on an equal level. This event showed us that humour and kindness can go a long way, even in politics.
During the whole meeting, Biden and Trump talked about working together across party lines, mainly on problems related to healthcare and infrastructure. Even though they had different ideas, the lighthearted beginning of their talk seemed to smooth things over.
After the fact, Biden told reporters, “Sometimes we need a little humour to break the ice.” He stressed that it was more important to find things they had in common than to argue about who wore the best aviators.
There were lots of memes on the internet with titles like “Aviator-in-Chief vs. The Apprentice” and “The Buddy Cop Movie We Didn’t Know We Needed” that showed Biden wearing the sunglasses with Trump.
In the end, the White House event showed that a little humour can make a big difference, even when things are bad. A funny moment between Biden and Trump showed that sometimes all it takes is sunglasses to bring people together.
