Biden Wearing a Trump Hat: Unity or Confusion?

September 13, 2024 Biden Wearing a Trump Hat: Unity or Confusion?  image

Key Takeaways

  • Joe Biden smiled and put on a Trump 2024 hat at an event with voters, sparking controversy online.
  • While most democrats disapproved, 40% expressed sentiments of unity and 50% of Independents reacted positively.
  • Many Republicans viewed the episode as a disingenuous attempt at unity, resenting the anti-Trump rhetoric Biden has spread for years.

Our Methodology

Demographics

All Voters

Sample Size

2,000

Geographical Breakdown

National

Time Period

1 Day

MIG Reports leverages EyesOver technology, employing Advanced AI for precise analysis. This ensures unparalleled precision, setting a new standard. Find out more about the unique data pull for this article. 

Surprising photos and video of President Joe Biden went viral when he put on red Trump hat at a recent 9/11 commemoration with firefighters in Pennsylvania. The unexpected gesture has led to confusion, amusement, disbelief, and disapproval on both sides of the political aisle.

Voters speculate about whether Biden did this as a gesture of unity, because he’s resentful toward Democrats for pushing him out, or because he’s old and senile.

Voter Reactions

MIG Reports data shows conversations about Biden are divided. Democrats are largely negative about this inopportune photo op. Trump supporters are more positive, expressing amusement but also a significant amount of skepticism. Independents are the most positive, seeming to embrace any moves from partisans that foster unity.

Biden Supporters

  • 60% negative reactions, with 30% expressing confusion and disappointment.
  • 40% positive or neutral.

Trump Supporters

  • 40% positive
  • 30% skeptical or negative
  • 30% neutral

Swing Voters

  • 50% positive
  • 30% negative
  • 20% neutral

Others

  • Young Progressives: 15% outright rejection
  • Moderate Democrats and Seniors: 10% approve, viewing it as symbolic unity

Confusion or Bold Move?

For Biden’s core supporters, the tableau struck a discordant note. Around 60% expressed outright disappointment. The hat—which represents Trump’s most recognizable campaign merchandise—confused many loyalists. They view Biden as the figurehead of opposition and a last bastion against their fears of a Trump dictatorship.

Democrats who view Trump as an ultimate “threat to democracy” are outraged. One representative comment said, "This undermines everything we’ve been fighting for." This reaction shows a strain on Biden’s already tenuous relationship with progressives.

Meanwhile, 40% of Biden supporters were either neutral or positive about the gesture, signaling that, for some, this could be interpreted as a potential act of unity. The 10% of older moderate Democrats who saw it as an effort to soften partisan divides, are among these positive reactions.

While the Democratic base views it as bad optics, there’s potential for attracting Independents and moderates who are fatigued by political division. Though, whether that unity serves Trump or Democrats is up for debate considering Biden is not in the presidential race.

Endearing or Dementia?

Trump supporters were not uniformly thrilled by Biden’s photo op—40% reacted positively. Some interpret it as a grudging acknowledgment of Trump’s influence with comments like, "Biden’s wearing our hat—he knows who runs the country." Others speculate that Biden is passive-aggressively expressing his anger with Democratic leaders for pushing him out of the race.

But skepticism also permeates Trump’s camp with 30% calling the move a superficial stunt. For this group, Biden’s gesture is a disingenuous attempt to feign unity after a long history of calling Trump a dictator, a threat to democracy, or even Hitler. Many also speculate that Biden’s declining cognitive health allowed him to wear the hat when, in a robust state of health, he would have refused.

Repercussions for Harris

Though not directly involved in this incident, Vice President Kamala Harris’s position as Biden’s replacement in the 2024 election places her in a strange position. The 60% negative response among Democrats raises questions about how his base could view Harris.

Many Democrats who have been relieved and excited for Biden to step out of the race will likely dismiss the event as indicative of why he was an insufficient candidate. However, Biden is still the president, and Harris is closely aligned with him as part of his administration. Some Democrats may view this as a blow to Harris as well as Biden.

For Harris, this incident offers both risk and opportunity. The challenge is in maintaining her alignment with the Democratic establishment, while simultaneously attempting to distance herself from Biden and appeal to swing voters without looking fake. This complicates her already difficult challenge of unifying a fractured Democratic Party.

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