Biden sparks concern after appearing lost while calling out for granddaughter at Obama center opening

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Former President Joe Biden found himself at the center of attention during the grand opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center after an awkward pmoment on stage left some viewers questioning what exactly had happened.

The incident occurred on Thursday, June 18, as Biden joined former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W Bush, along with their spouses and former Vice President Kamala Harris, for the opening celebration in Chicago.

After the program wrapped up and music began playing, Obama appeared to leave the stage in high spirits. Former first lady Jill Biden followed behind him, while Biden remained standing alone near the podium as others walked away.

Joe Biden lingers on stage after ceremony concludes

Video from the event showed Biden waving to the crowd as the ceremony came to an end.

However, while others appeared to be exiting the stage, the former president remained behind.

At one point, Biden walked over to the podium and removed his sunglasses before looking out toward the audience.

He then appeared to call out, “Where’s my granddaughter?”

The reason for the moment was not immediately clear from the footage. Biden subsequently seemed to begin making his way off stage before the video ended.

The scene drew attention because it echoed moments from Biden's presidency when critics often pointed to instances in which he appeared unsure of where to go after public appearances and official events.

Barack Obama publicly thanks Joe Biden during celebration

Despite the awkward moment, Biden was warmly welcomed throughout the event.

At one point during the celebration, Obama walked over to Biden, patted him on the back and shared a laugh with his former running mate.

Later, Obama took time during his remarks to thank Biden for the role he played during their eight years together in the White House.

“Thank you to your steadfast partnership for eight years. Joe, we started as running mates, and ended as family. And we would not be here without you, and we are grateful,” Obama said.

The comment earned applause from attendees gathered to celebrate the opening of the presidential center.

The event marked one of Biden's most notable public appearances in recent months as he continues to battle prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones.

Joe Biden’s political legacy remains under scrutiny

While Biden received praise from Obama during the ceremony, questions surrounding the end of his presidency continue to linger within Democratic circles.

Many critics have argued that Biden should have stepped aside earlier and not sought another term in office.

Earlier this week, Hillary Clinton reflected on Biden's decision to run again and suggested it ultimately hurt both his political legacy and the Democratic Party's chances in the 2024 election.

“He made a terrible mistake,” Clinton told New Yorker editor David Remnick.

“He made a terrible mistake for himself, his legacy, and for the country,” she added.

Clinton also argued that the Democratic Party would have benefited from holding a more competitive process to choose its nominee.

“We would have had a real contest,” she said. “And very sadly I believe whoever emerged from that contest, whether it was the vice president or a governor or a senator or anybody else, would have beaten Donald Trump.”

Questions about Biden's decision to seek another term have also surfaced within his own family.

Jill Biden recently acknowledged that, if given another opportunity, she would have pushed her husband not to pursue reelection.

She also revealed that she feared he may have been experiencing a medical emergency during his widely criticized debate performance against Donald Trump in 2024.