Joe Biden trolled for wandering off at G7 summit before being pulled back by Italian PM Giorgia Meloni

APULIA, ITALY: President Joe Biden became distracted and moved away from the group of world leaders during a skydiving demonstration at the G7 summit in southern Italy on Thursday, June 13.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of the host nation had to guide him back to the rest of the leaders, per the New York Post.

While the leaders of the world’s wealthiest democracies were applauding the evening parachuting presentation, the 81-year-old POTUS' attention shifted away from the main action.

The Democrat statesman seemed to be unaware of what was happening right in front of him as he moved a few steps away from the other heads of government, turned in a different direction, and appeared to speak to an officer who was packing a parachute.

It was at this moment that Meloni approached Biden, walking backward so she could still face the other leaders, and gently touched the president's right arm to signal him to return to the group.

Afterward, the leaders gathered around President Biden for a photo-op, during which the commander-in-chief put on his signature aviator sunglasses.

President Biden wandering off from group of world leaders uncorks reactions

The bizarre moment was highlighted by the Republican National Committee's X account, RNC Research, which shared the video with an all-caps caption, asking, "WHAT IS BIDEN DOING?"

Senior writer for the National Review Dan McLaughlin tweeted, "As if Meloni doesn't have enough on her hands, now she's stuck playing chaperone to Grandpa Joe."

"The prime minister of another country had to go track him down and stop him from aimlessly wandering off," conservative sports outlet Outkick’s writer Ian Miller added. "What an embarrassment."

White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates stood behind the President, arguing that the video, which was extensively circulated by social media outlets, was skewed.

“[Biden is] saying congratulations to one of the divers and giving a thumbs up.” Bates contended on X.

Earlier, President Joe Biden had a peculiar encounter with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, where he seemingly leaned into her as they embraced upon his arrival at the summit venue in the city of Fasano.

Before leaving the stage where Meloni had greeted him, Biden also made an awkward salute with his right hand and then walked away.

Biden’s trip to the G7 summit is his second visit to Europe in as many weeks, as he had visited France last week to take part in commemorations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

During the June 6 ceremony in Normandy, President Joe Biden had difficulty finding his seat on stage, apparently not realizing that his fellow luminaries, including French President Emmanuel Macron, had remained standing.

Biden’s staff members have privately admitted that the president, who would be 86 years old if he completes a full second term in January 2029, has at times lost his focus during private conversations in addition to his public gaffes.

President Biden was directed away by a handler after shaking hands with President Macron and then stood for several minutes as if lost.

Biden will be absent from the third and final day of the G7 summit to travel back to the West Coast, where he will be the main attraction at a Hollywood campaign fundraiser hosted by actor George Clooney.

Internet reacts to Joe Biden wandering away at G7 summit

A soon as the clip of Biden wandering away from the group of world leaders gained traction online, social media users quickly posted their reactions.

One X user remarked, "Macron and Meloni drew the short straws. Their turn to babysit."

Another user said, "LOLOLOL How is this man president of the United States????"

One user wrote, "Isn’t this the guy that’s supposed to participate in a Presidential Debate in two weeks? Good lord, he doesn’t even know what’s going on."

One user claimed, "Absolute Embarrassment. How is it that nobody who has direct contact with him is speaking out? They witness it first hand and they all remain tight lipped saying nothing! The only solution I can come up with is they don’t want Harris at the helm. So they keep him standing."

Another X user remarked, "This is getting worse by the day. Make it stop."

Finally, this user tweeted, "The meds are losing their effectiveness."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.