Biden Jokes Trustee Resembles Obama at Syracuse Portrait Event

Former President Joe Biden drew attention during a ceremony at his alma mater, Syracuse University, on Tuesday when he jokingly compared a Black university trustee to Barack Obama and invited the man onstage.

The moment occurred at the Syracuse University College of Law, where Biden's official portrait was unveiled and will be permanently displayed in the Law Library Reading Room. The oil-on-canvas painting, created by artist Michael Shane Neal, honors Biden's 1968 graduation from the school. Biden, who served as the 46th president until January 2025, addressed the audience and singled out Jeffrey Scruggs, the Black chairman of the university's Board of Trustees.

"I always want to turn around to one guy and say, Barack, what are you doing?" Biden said, prompting laughter from the crowd. He then motioned repeatedly for Scruggs to join him at the podium, saying, "Come here, come here, come here." Scruggs approached smiling, and Biden added, "I feel like he should be standing on the right and I should be standing on the left." Turning to the audience, Biden remarked, "Doesn't he look like Barack?" Scruggs shook his head while laughing and later quipped, "Well, I try," after Biden...