Yesterday’s memorial service for the late Ethel Kennedy was filled with political dignitaries, including former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, current president Joe Biden, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
All delivered heartwarming remarks about Ethel Kennedy.
However, it’s a comment that former president Barack Obama made that’s grabbing headlines today.
After the service ended, CSPAN cameras caught a tense exchanged between Obama and Biden.
Obama was visibly upset, had his arms crossed, and appeared to look like he was in a defensive posture. Here’s the footage:
At the Ethel Kennedy Memorial Service, Joe Biden's boss, Obama, was visibly upset, looking deeply concerned about something.
It seems the shadow presidency has come to an end. pic.twitter.com/1rzFnXAaUz
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) October 16, 2024
As you can see from the background footage, Biden seemed to be asking about something and Obama was explaining and appeared to answer Biden’s questions with “No” before continuing.
There was a lot of speculation as to what was said between Obama and Biden — particularly with ominous “No” apparently delivered by Obama.
What I see in the first 10 seconds:
Joe: (Asks something, the camera is out of focus)
BO: (Shaking his head no) “Nope… it’s done.”
Joe: (Looks away and up, probably towards Jesus on the cross. Looks back at BO and gets a visibly sick look on his face as probably what was just…— BudFoot108 (@BudFoot108) October 16, 2024
Social media users believed he was referring to Kamala Harris, with one user saying:
‘Obama says ‘No’ then shakes his head and says ‘Not good,’ Hopefully they are talking about Kamala’s campaign LOL.’
Was Obama eluding to Kamala Harris? Why was Joe Biden clearly shaken during the exchange?
Nobody knows what they said — except for Biden and Obama. Regardless of what was said, it’s clear from the footage that the relationship between to two is a shell of what it used to be.
The exchange between Obama and Biden wasn’t the only tense moment at the Kennedy service.
While delivering remarks about Ethel Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi recognized all of the former presidents in attendance. However, it was met with a death stare from Biden.
.@SpeakerPelosi: "Mr. President, Mr. President, Mr. President."
Presidents Biden, Obama and Clinton listen to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi at Ethel Kennedy funeral. pic.twitter.com/ildgZKpaTo
— Jeremy Art (@cspanJeremy) October 16, 2024
Multiple reports say that Biden and Pelosi have not spoken since he bowed out of the presidential race, with Pelosi herself admitting the two have not communicated.
And then there was this gem from former president Bill Clinton during his remarks.
“I will tell you this. I thought your mother was the cat’s meow. She would flirt with me in the most innocent ways,” Clinton, 78, said in his eulogy for Kennedy. “I remember once I said, “We’re not at replacement population anymore and all the politics are anti-immigrant. What are we going to do…We need more people like you.”
Did he really indicate that Ethel Kennedy used to flirt with him, while speaking at her memorial service?! Yikes!
Bill Clinton at Ethel Kennedy's funeral: “I thought your mother was the cat’s meow. She would flirt with me in the most innocent ways.”😬 pic.twitter.com/hCOQkBUMb2
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 16, 2024