Former President Joe Biden drew attention during a public appearance at Syracuse University School of Law on Tuesday after making a comparison between a trustee on stage and former President Barack Obama, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
The moment occurred during Biden’s portrait unveiling event at his alma mater, where he addressed attendees and paused to point out someone in the audience he said reminded him of his former running mate.
“I always want to turn around to one guy and say … ‘Barack, what are you doing?’” Biden said during the speech.
Biden was referring to Jeffrey Scruggs, chairman of the university’s Board of Trustees. Scruggs, who was present at the event, appeared to catch Biden’s attention as the former president continued addressing the crowd.
The 83-year-old then called Scruggs to join him at the podium, repeatedly motioning for him to come forward.
“Come here, come here, come here, come here … come here,” Biden said, urging Scruggs to step up on stage.
Scruggs eventually approached the podium, appearing to laugh as he joined Biden. Once beside him, Biden continued the comparison.
“I feel like he should be standing on the right and I should be standing on the left,” Biden said.
He then addressed the audience directly, asking, “Doesn’t he look like Barack?”
Scruggs responded by shaking his head, appearing to disagree with the comparison as the audience watched the exchange.
Biden then turned back to Scruggs and added, “As they say, you’ve done good, fella.”
Scruggs replied, “Well, you know, I try.”
Joe Biden pulls over black man and says: “doesn’t he look like Barack?”
Does Joe Biden think all black men look alike? pic.twitter.com/e0xarhKkJP [3]
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 14, 2026 [4]
According to reports, Scruggs had previously told Biden backstage that his daughter wanted him to ask the former president whether he resembled Obama. The onstage interaction was intended to provide an answer to that question.
The moment quickly drew reactions online after clips of the exchange circulated across social media platforms.
Some users agreed with Biden’s observation, commenting on similarities in appearance between Scruggs and Obama.
“He does look like Barack, though,” one X user wrote. “The hair, the face shape, the suit.”
He does look like Barack though. The hair, the face shape, the suit.
— C (@C163680621902) April 14, 2026 [5]
Another user added, “Low key he does look like him!”
Low key he does look like him! https://t.co/egBAhMkC52 [6]
— ShibTastic574 (@Tastic574Shib) April 14, 2026 [7]
A third comment read, “That dude does genuinely look like Obama.”
No that dude does genuinely look like Obama https://t.co/yk0uKOS0H1 [8] pic.twitter.com/LSKetTiFuk [9]
— IL Brandonite (PARODY) (@ILbrandonite__) April 14, 2026 [10]
Other users criticized the remark, with some describing the moment as inappropriate.
The exchange unfolded during what was otherwise a formal event marking Biden’s connection to Syracuse University, where he attended law school. The portrait unveiling was part of a ceremony recognizing his time at the institution and his political career.
The interaction with Scruggs, however, became a focal point of discussion following the event, drawing mixed reactions both at the venue and online.