'Superspreader Joe': Maskless Biden Coughs Into His Palm, Then Shakes Hands - Video

As the United States continues to struggle with the coronavirus pandemic, introducing vaccine and mask requirements and adjusting public health guidelines so that life can return to a semblance of normalcy, such a routine thing as handshakes is still a no-no - especially when one has just coughed into their palm.

When speaking about his "Build Back Better" agenda in Kerney, New Jersey, US President Joe Biden appeared to take the event to a "superspreader" level - or at least that's how some netizens who watched a video of him coughing into his hand and then turning around ready to shake hands thought.

Biden was not wearing a mask during his remarks or after finishing them, when he coughed into his palm and spread his hand in a gesture of greeting. When he descended from the podium, he greeted one of his aides with the very same hand - and was still the only unmasked person in the group.

The video of the vaccinated US president managing to breach almost every existing coronavirus restriction has since quickly gone viral, prompting a lot of emotions online.

Does this qualify as a super spreader event

— Kirt in LA (@SuihkonenKirt) October 25, 2021

When Biden coughs in his hand and shakes other ppl’s hands: pic.twitter.com/eXvJEdxZGj

— The Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) October 25, 2021

pic.twitter.com/OOFFC0kfJ0

— Edward_IV (@EJBJR07) October 25, 2021

In all honesty, I think there is zero chance he is on the ticket in 2024. His own party will not allow it.

— Brando Flex (@BrandoFlex) October 25, 2021

One user shared their own experience with the coronavirus-related restrictions at a grocery store for comparison.

Meanwhile today the grocery clerk handed me a receipt and my finger accidentally grazed her hand and she recoiled in horror, grabbing a bottle of disinfectant used to clean the check stand. So much for being vaxxed...

— Phatpianogirl (@phatpiano) October 25, 2021

Others expressed concerns about the health of the US president, recalling the way the American media treated the same issue regarding his predecessor, Donald Trump.

For as much as he coughs you would think CNN would run round the clock news coverage about his health like they did trump when they called him overweight. This guy is literally dying before our eyes and CNN pats him on the back when he manages to walk down stairs w/o falling

— MDBabyyyy (@USAlover4life) October 25, 2021

Some netizens cackled at how no one was there to accept Biden's first attempted handshake - luckily for them, apparently.

I like him extending his hand...
to no one. pic.twitter.com/dmCXUuzM5x

— Coby Jay 43 🎃🇺🇸🎃🇺🇸 (@CobyJayJr43) October 26, 2021

The first handshake was with an invisible man, only Biden can see him.

— Frank Starr (exposing fiat culture) (@mgtowfrank) October 25, 2021

Levels of public support for Joe Biden are not at their peak, with ratings for the 46th US president seeing a slide amid his decisions about the withdrawal from Afghanistan and response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier in the week, the Biden administration introduced new vaccine requirements for those travelling to the United States, lifting the travel restrictions imposed by the Trump White House in 2020 when the pandemic started.