This is the bizarre moment Joe Biden told the daughter of a freed prisoner ‘no serious guys until you’re 30’ while awkwardly wrapping his am around her.
The president led a rendition of Happy Birthday to the girl who turned 13 on Friday in front of a room filled with family members of released Americans.
In footage of the moment, Biden tells the room ‘Tomorrow is a big day, the 13th birthday of Miriam (Butorin),’ who is the daughter of Alsu Kurmasheva, one of the hostages freed in a historic prisoner swap.
As he extends his hand to pull her towards him, he asks his audience to join him in singing Happy Birthday to the young girl.
‘As you all know, we have a tradition in the Biden family. We sing Happy Birthday,’ he said.Â
President Joe Biden sings happy birthday to Miriam Butorin after delivering remarks on a prisoner swap with Russia from the State Dining Room of the White House
Miriam Butorin wipes her tears at the White House event
Biden provided some life dating advice after the song, saying: ‘And remember, no serious guys until you’re 30. God love you’
After the song, he dished out some awkward advice to the teen, saying: ‘And remember, no serious guys until you’re 30. God love you’.
Miriam was quickly reduced to tears as Biden embraced her with one arm, causing her to laugh nervously at the floor as she wiped her eyes.
Biden, who hasn’t been seen publicly since Tuesday, made the surprise appearance inside the State Dining Room at the White House just hours after the historic deal that freed American ex-Marine Paul Whelan, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and Kurmasheva, a Russian-American reporter.
The American President had earlier confirmed that negotiations had resulted in the release of 16 people, including five Germans and eight Russian citizens.
All were held inside Russia, Whelan since 2018, for ‘no legitimate reason whatsoever – none,’ Biden said. ‘And now they’re brutal ordeal is over and they’re free.Â
The US had also coordinated the release of Russian criminals including Vadim Krasikov, known as the ‘bicycle assassin’ who killed a Georgian national in Berlin in 2019.Â
Responding to a question from DailyMail.com, the president defended Krasikov’s release, who had been serving a life sentence in Germany.
Asked how he weighed the decision to release the hit man who was able to get away with murder, Biden responded: ‘I got home innocent people.’
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is among those released from prison in Russia
Biden positioned family members behind him for the event, where he read from prepared remarks and took a series of questions from the press, at a time when the White House says he is ‘recalibrating’ his role now that he isn’t seeking reelection.
‘They never gave up hope. I can’t imagine what they’ve been through,’ he said.
He invoked his own late son Beau as he tried to describe what they grappled with.Â
‘Family is the beginning, the middle, and the end,’ he said.
The president said it ‘says a lot’ about American values that the US also pushed for the release of Russian dissidents being held inside their country.Â
He said they would not be free to ‘live safely abroad’ and said they would be able to continue working to promote democracy in Russia ‘if they so choose.’
Biden focused many of his remarks on the freed Americans, who also included Vladimir Kara-Murza, a journalist and Russian-British dissident also part of the swap.
He referred to the quartet by the first names.
‘This deal would not have been made possible without our allies,’ said Biden.
On Thursday, Biden hailed the deal as a ‘feat of diplomacy’ that was testament to having good allies who make ‘bold and brave decisions’.
The statement came just two weeks after Biden stepped back from the presidential race following heavy criticism of his age and abilities.
He has since been replaced by his vice president, Kamala Harris.
