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  • 2021-09-01 (xsd:date)
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  • Did Biden Check Watch Multiple Times During Transfer of Fallen Soldiers? (de)
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  • On Aug. 29, 2021, videos and photographs started circulating online that supposedly showed U.S. President Joe Biden checking his watch during the dignified transfer of 13 American soldiers who were killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan. These images were widely circulated by Biden's critics, who called his behavior callous. Biden, first lady Jill Biden, and other members of the military and his administration, stood on the tarmac of Dover Air Force Base as 11 flag-draped coffins (two transfers were conducted in private) were carried from a military plane into vehicles ready to drive them to a facility at Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations. As each coffin was brought out of the plane, Biden and the rest of the party would place their hands over their hearts or raise them in salute. After the remains of the final soldier were loaded into the vehicle, and after the vehicles pulled away, Biden lowered his arms to his sides and appeared, for a brief moment, to glance at his watch. This moment can be seen in the following video from C-SPAN. At the 39-minute mark, the vans carrying the remains of the 11 fallen soldiers depart the area. Biden stands in silence with his hand on his heart for about 30 seconds. When he finally lowers his hand, he appears to turn his wrist and glance down at his watch before striking a more solemn pose. https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4975418/user-clip-dignified-transfer-soldiers After this clip went viral, two family members of these fallen soldiers appeared on the Fox News program Hannity and alleged that Biden checked his watch after every casket was transferred. Darin Hoover, the father of Marine Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, and Mark Schmitz, the father of Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, told Hannity (via the NY Post) Biden was not on video during the entire broadcast of this solemn ceremony, so we can't say for certain how many times he checked his watch. We watched this full video and looked through photographs from Getty Images, Reuters, and The Associated Press to see if Biden checked his watch at any other time during the ceremony. As noted by USA Today, Associated Press photographer Carolyn Kaster captured two images of the president as he appeared to glance at his watch. As these photographs were taken 10 minutes apart, it appears that Biden checked his watch at least twice during the ceremony. A third photograph from Getty photographer Saul Loeb also captured Biden glancing at his watch, but that photograph may show the same moment captured by Kaster or the moment shown in the video. On Aug. 31, 2021, Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich asked White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki about this allegation. Here's the full exchange: (en)
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