Biden Fans Go Nuts For Viral Photo of POTUS, Dejected-Looking DeSantis, And A ‘True Florida Cracker’

Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images
Supporters of President Joe Biden went nuts for a viral photo featuring the president, a self-styled “True Florida Cracker,” a woman wearing heels to a disaster site, and a dejected-looking Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
The president traveled to Florida to survey the relief effort and the devastation from Hurricane Ian, where he also had his much-anticipated meeting with DeSantis.
Biden has made a concerted effort to separate the politically fraught dynamic he and DeSantis share, rebuking any attempt to inject political issues like the Martha’s Vineyard stunt into their cooperation on Hurricane Ian.
But his supporters? Not so much. Many of them saw Biden’s visit as a political triumph, and were particularly fond of one photograph taken by Associated Press Chief Washington Photographer Evan Vucci.
The shot features President Biden and two Floridians — one in a “True Florida Cracker” t-shirt — engaged in animated, smiling conversation. DeSantis lingers in the foreground, out of focus and wearing a neutral expression, headed away from the conversation.
Veteran White House correspondent Paul Brandus summed up the photo by writing “As usual, @evanvucci – one of the best photographers in the White House press corps – captures such wonderful moments.”
“-Democrats will say look at DeSantis, a nasty-looking mean guy all alone -Republicans will say look at Biden, touchy-feely Joe,” he wrote.
As usual, @evanvucci – one of the best photographers in the White House press corps – captures such wonderful moments.
-Democrats will say look at DeSantis, a nasty-looking mean guy all alone
-Republicans will say look at Biden, touchy-feely Joe pic.twitter.com/rG5Qs82BHF— West Wing Reports (by Paul Brandus) (@WestWingReport) October 6, 2022
Mr. Brandus was correct, as supporters of the president and other blue-checks launched dunks and other humorous takes on the photo:
“…and it’s not okay because if they take my stapler then I’ll set the building on fire…” pic.twitter.com/YDqtKLQbji
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) October 6, 2022
Say what you will about President Biden, but I’ve been around long enough to recognize a good man when I see one. @POTUS is a good, decent, compassionate, competent man who genuinely cares about helping everyday people. PS. DeSantis’ face reveals that he knows that too. #VoteBlue https://t.co/nCk7x46hVD
— Mike Ford (@Mike4Georgia) October 6, 2022
— James ‘Papi Chino’ Mielke (@LimitedRunJames) October 6, 2022
If this photo by @evanvucci hasn’t become a Sad Ron meme yet, it ought to before the end of the night. pic.twitter.com/i205cPvSYW
— David Moscrop (@David_Moscrop) October 6, 2022
What a photo.
📸 @evanvucci / @AP pic.twitter.com/yy4fXEWOEf
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) October 5, 2022
It’s that “I totaled my car and had to go with my dad to the bank so he could cosign a loan for a new one for me since I’m not working right now, and the people at the bank are all ‘chummy’ with my dad and I hate it but I really need the loan” look. https://t.co/ZcIwiWmvRO
— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid 😷 (@JoyAnnReid) October 6, 2022
underappreciated: DeSantis doesn’t have that retail politics/people gift, which is why he stages everything.
Biden does.
If you didn’t know that, study the picture. https://t.co/HA3tNSrINk
— Greg Dworkin (@DemFromCT) October 6, 2022
DeSantis as George Michael Bluth https://t.co/Xew6uxthfJ
— Josh Chafetz (@joshchafetz) October 6, 2022
♥️
Photo by @evanvucci pic.twitter.com/Bq5BlqiNqI
— Jennifer Taub 🌻 🇺🇸 (@jentaub) October 6, 2022
#DarkBrandon https://t.co/jKNiwSCqD1
— David Rothschild 🌻 (@DavMicRot) October 5, 2022
For its part, the White House has embraced a different viral moment from Wednesday’s visit — the unvarnished hot-mic moment when the president told Fort Myers Beach Mayor Ray Murphy that “no one fucks with a Biden.”
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