This is the bizarre moment Joe Biden tells a released prisoner’s daughter, ‘No serious men until you’re 30,’ as he uncomfortably wraps his mouth around her.
The president sang Happy Birthday to the girl who turned 13 on Friday to a room full of relatives of released Americans.
In footage of the moment, Biden tells the room: “Tomorrow is an important day, the 13th birthday of Miriam (Butorin),” she is the daughter of Alsu Kurmasheva, one of the hostages freed in a historic prisoner exchange.
As he extends his hand to pull her toward 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.
President Joe Biden sings Happy Birthday to Miriam Butorin after delivering a speech on a prisoner swap with Russia from the State Dining Room of the White House
Miriam Butorin wipes away tears during the event at the White House
Biden gave some dating advice for life after the song: “And remember, no serious men until you’re 30. God loves you.”
After the song, he gave the teen some awkward advice: “And remember, no serious boys until you’re 30. God loves you.”
Miriam immediately burst into tears when Biden hugged her with one arm. She started laughing nervously and wiped her eyes.
Biden, who has not been seen in public since Tuesday, made a surprise appearance in the State Dining Room at the White House just hours after the historic deal that saw the release of former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Kurmasheva, a Russian-American reporter.
The US president had previously confirmed that the negotiations had led to the release of 16 people, including five Germans and eight Russian citizens.
They had all been held in Russia since 2018, Whelan said, “for no legitimate reason — none,” Biden said. “And now their brutal ordeal is over and they are free.”
The US also coordinated the release of Russian criminals, including Vadim Krasikov, known as the “bicycle killer” who murdered a Georgian in Berlin in 2019.
In response to a question from DailyMail.com, the president defended the release of Krasikov, who was serving a life sentence in Germany.
Asked how he felt about the decision to release the hitman who went unpunished for murder, Biden replied: “I brought innocent people home.”
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is among those released from Russian prison
Biden had family members standing behind him at the rally, where he read from his prepared speech and took a series of questions from the press. The White House says he is “reconsidering” his role now that he is not seeking re-election.
“They never gave up hope. I can’t imagine what they went through,” he said.
He drew on his late son Beau when trying to describe what they were struggling with.
“Family is the beginning, the middle and the end,” he said.
The president said it “says a lot” about American values that the US is also pushing for the release of Russian dissidents held in their country.
He said they would no longer be able to “live safely abroad” and that they could continue to work to promote democracy in Russia “if they wished to do so.”
Biden focused his remarks on the released Americans, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, a journalist and Russian-British dissident who was also part of the swap.
He called the quartet by their first names.
“This deal wouldn’t have been possible without our allies,” Biden said.
On Thursday, Biden praised the deal as a “feat of diplomacy” that demonstrates having good allies making “courageous and bold decisions.”
The statement came just two weeks after Biden withdrew from the presidential race amid heavy criticism over his age and capabilities.
He has since been replaced by his vice president, Kamala Harris.