Controversial fact-checking site Snopes has changed its rating on a report that U.S. President Joe Biden wore a construction hat backwards.
Snopes initially rated the report that the president’s hard hat was the wrong way round as false.
“We received a ton of comments in a very short time challenging our assumption that wearing a hard hat “backwards” means wearing it with the brim facing to the rear, and “forwards” means wearing it brim to the front. On the basis of that assumption, we originally rated the claim that Biden was wearing a hard hat backwards as false,” Snopes posted on its website.
Snopes received numerous comments pointing out that Mr. Biden was in fact wearing the hard hat backwards, which resulted in Snopes re-evaluating its rating. It appears the outlet was bamboozled by the hat’s non-standard configuration, which had the bill facing backwards.
“If the suspension of the hat has been purposely configured by its owner such that the bill and tightening knob are worn to the back (as was the case of the hat Biden wore), to wear that hat with the bill facing forward is, practically speaking, to wear it backwards.”
Snopes subsequently admitted that the counter-arguments had merit, and re-rated the claim as “true,” adding that “Biden looks damn silly in any case.”
It all began after the president was photographed alongside construction workers in Superior, Wisconsin, on Jan. 25, wearing a hard hat with the nape strap and tightening knob at the front.
The image showed Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), President Biden, and a group of construction workers posing in a local bar. People on social media were quick to point out the gaffe on the president’s part.
The photo drew comments from social media influencers and other public figures, including Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who joked that a Biden aide would be fired over it.
“Somewhere a staffer is updating their resume…,” he posted on X.
“Joe Biden wearing a hardhat backward while trying to be ‘one of the guys’ is so on brand,” a post the Citizen Free Press reads.
Another X user posted:
“Biden having the hardhat on backwards really sells the ‘I’m middle class Joe and one of you’ authenticity.”
And Michael Caputo, a former Trump administration official, posted: “Labor Leaders v Actual Labor. All the working men around Biden knew he put the hardhat on backwards and didn’t tell him. None of Biden’s staff realized because they all have Women’s Studies degrees. The greatest troll job ever!”
Since taking office, the president has often been called out for his gaffes, leading many, including members of his own party, to question whether he is still mentally fit to fulfil his role as Commander-in-Chief for a second term.
A recent poll posted by Gallup shows the incumbent’s approval to be at an all-time low.
