President Joe Biden talks about appearing in an episode of “Parks and Recreation,” and responds to the conspiracy theory that he is working with Taylor Swift.
The eagle has landed.
President Joe Biden made a surprise appearance Monday on "Late Night with Seth Meyers" alongside comedian Amy Poehler, who he joined on stage to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Meyers' show on NBC.
Biden had been a guest on Meyers' first show when he was vice president 10 years earlier.
“It’s good to be back,” Biden told Meyers. “Why haven’t you invited me earlier?”
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Meyers asked Biden whether he enjoyed playing around with the "Dark Brandon" right-wing conspiracy theory meme, which features Biden with lasers for eyes, something the Biden team has embraced by making it a centerpiece of their social media.
"No, I resent the hell out of it," Biden told Meyers while putting on his signature aviator sunglasses, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Meyers then asked Biden about the Taylor Swift conspiracy among conservatives, which claims that the pop superstar and her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, are part of an elaborate plot to help Democrats win the 2024 presidential election.
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"Where you getting this information," Biden said with his sunglasses still on. "That's classified."
Biden added that Swift endorsed him for president in 2020, prompting Meyers to ask if she would support him again, to which the president laughingly retorted, “I told you it’s classified.”
After a break, Poehler left the stage and just Biden and Meyers got to more serious subjects.
Addressing criticism about his age, the 81-year-old president noted former President Donald Trump is also older, while taking a dig at his Republican rival's own mental acuity and policy ideas.
"He's is about as old as I am, but he can't even remember his wife's name," Biden said, referring to the 77-year-old Trump appearing to call Melania Trump "Mercedes" during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference last weekend. Mercedes Schlapp, his former aide who helps run the group, was in the audience.
He continued, "Number two, it's about how old your ideas are. He wants to take us back. He wants to take us back on Roe v. Wade. He wants to take us back on a whole range of issues that for 50-60 years have been solid American positions."
Biden also criticized Trump for praising those who participated in the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, and for pledging to pardon those who assaulted police officers and tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
“That’s what happens in Eastern European countries,” Biden said. “That’s not what happens in America.”
During the interview, Biden also spoke about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, saying that a hostage deal involving a temporary cease-fire during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan is something Israel could agree to and is in the "process" of being worked out.
"Ramadan’s coming up and there has been an agreement by the Israelis that they would not engage in activities during Ramadan as well, in order to give us time to get all the hostages out,” Biden said.
Biden also said that there "are too many innocent people being killed" in the military operation in Gaza and that a "process underway" that could eventually lead to a two-state solution between Israel and Palestinians.
Biden's stop at 30 Rock came during a trip to New York City to meet with donors at a midtown hotel. Biden is seeking additional ways to reach out to voters, having largely avoided White House press conferences and on-the-record sit-downs with text reporters.
