Bill Clinton appears to fall asleep at inauguration
While millions in the US and many more around the world rejoiced as Joe Biden officially took over from Donald Trump after a controversial four years in office, the excitement of the occasion wasn’t enough for one former president to keep his eyes open.
Bill Clinton, who was sitting next to wife Hilary Clinton, was caught on camera appearing to take an impromptu snooze during President Biden’s inauguration speech.
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Biden only just started talking and @BillClinton’s already asleep. pic.twitter.com/YYDzySCwe8
— Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) January 20, 2021
Outgoing Vice President Mike Pence and former President George W Bush were pictured in the row in front, however they seemed fixated on proceedings.
And Clinton’s dozing antics, although they lasted only a few seconds, weren’t missed by those watching at home, with social media quickly awash with users revelling in his untimely nap.
Former Trump deputy assistant Sebastian Gorka was quick to jump on the brief video clip, sharing a still to his near one million followers.
"Biden only just started talking and @BillClinton's already asleep,” he said, garnering nearly 5,000 likes.
Yet many sympathised with the 74-year-old, suggesting that Biden’s speech was “boring”.
“I'd be sleeping as well listening to him,” one person said on Twitter.
Later footage shows Clinton with his eyes open, which suggests he may have only been resting his eyes.
Bernie Sanders’ mittens an online hit
Clinton was not the only person to catch the attention of those watching on, with US Senator Bernie Sanders, who has twice run for the presidency, a hit online for his informal attire.
Wearing a brown hooded jacket and large woollen mittens in chilly temperatures, the 79-year-old was hailed on Twitter for managing to look like a common man even at the most historic events.
Others mocked his look for resembling a "grandpa at the post office" or someone going out to "shovel the driveway".
An image of Sanders with his arms crossed looking a little worse for wear has quickly sparked a meme trend online.
Oh no! They got him! #BernieSanders
P.S. I know the photoshop itself is bad but that's what I can do in half an hour. pic.twitter.com/dvbsVCpIx9— Tölgyes Áron (@Bajron18) January 20, 2021
The best Bernie Sanders Inauguration meme pic.twitter.com/VSn8gtryY4
— UGene🐝 (@EugeneGlukh) January 20, 2021
Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris outfits in spotlight
Meanwhile, other high-profile political figures also saw their choice of outfit choices generate discussion.
Former first ladies Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, together with Vice President Kamala Harris, all wore varying shades of purple to the event.
Some speculated that the choice was a nod to a mix of blue and red, the colours associated with the Democrat and Republican Parties, symbolising a call for unity.
Harris often chose to wear purple during her campaign for the presidency in 2019.
It was meant to honour the late Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to run for resident in the US, and who also wore purple during her campaign.
More than 25,000 troops and police were called in for duty ahead of the ceremony after the deadly riots at the US Capitol two weeks earlier, while checkpoints were set up at intersections and crowds were banned.
With AAP
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