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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Mike Bedigan

Pic of Biden wearing Trump hat sends MAGA fans into meltdown – but White House says he was promoting ‘unity’

@TrumpWarRoom/ X

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Trump supporters went into meltdown after pictures emerged online of Joe Biden wearing a piece of the former president’s campaign merchandise.

In the photos the president is seen wearing a bright red hat that bears the words “Trump 2024” and smiling. The X account of the Trump War Room was quick to share the image, writing “Thanks for the support, Joe!”

“Sleepy Joe, welcome aboard the Trump Train!!!!” wrote one user, with another adding: “Finally hopped on board!” Another branded Biden’s wearing of the hat as “the smartest thing he’s done in his entire political career.”

The Biden campaign was quick to clarify the circumstances of the picture, saying it had been a spontaneous gesture by the president to promote “bipartisan unity” during a trip to Pennsylvania on Wednesday.

White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said the incident had occurred during Biden’s visit to Shanksville Fire Station, following his appearance at a 9/11 memorial service.

“As a gesture, he gave a hat to a Trump supporter who then said that in the  same spirit, POTUS should put on his Trump cap. He briefly wore it,” Bates said.

Video of the swap, also shared online, appeared to confirm Bates’ account, but this did not stymy Trump supporters’ glee.

“See, Trump was right. Joe Biden does hate Kamala Harris,” wrote one user, alluding to comments made by Trump during Tuesday night’s presidential debate in Philadelphia. “I’ll give you a little secret,” he said.

“He hates her. He can’t stand her, but he got 14 million votes, they threw him out.”

Trump has peddled the line about discord between the president and vice president ever since Biden’s announcement that he was stepping down from the top of the ticket in July.

The former president has also joked about sending his new rival Harris a MAGA hat of her own, due to the fact that she has, he claims, stolen many of his policies.

“She’s going to my philosophy now. In fact, I was going to send her a maga hat,” he said on Tuesday.

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