Biden's 5 Most Awkward Moments

Joe, you're being awkward again. Vice President Joe Biden forgot his sandwich money Friday. Biden was celebrating the opening of a Delaware-based sandwich shop's D.C. location, and decided to pick up some hoagies for himself and POTUS. But he didn't have any cash on hand, and had to borrow some from an aid. This isn’t really newsworthy, except for the fact that it’s Joe Biden, and this is exactly the kind of thing Biden would do. Biden's charmingly-awkward gaffes have earned him the love of some, the wrath of others, and even a parody autobiography.

We thought we'd look back on some of the vice president's most delightful minor screw-ups, because it's the end of the week, and why not?

1. The time he told someone in a wheelchair to stand up

Biden was giving a shout-out to Missouri State Senator Chuck Graham at a campaign rally in 2008. “Stand up, Chuck, let ‘em see ya!,’ Biden said, seemingly unaware that Graham is confined to a wheelchair, and therefore can’t stand up. “Oh, God love you, what am I talking about,” Biden said, recovering quickly. “I tell you what, stand up for chuck!,” the then-vice presidential candidate encouraged. The crowd acquiesced.

2. The time he forgot that the Irish PM's mom was alive

In 2010, Biden incorrectly implied that the Irish Prime Minister’s mother was dead. “His mom lived in Long Island for ten years or so, God rest her soul, and, umm ... although, wait, your mom’s still alive, it was your dad who passed,” Biden said to laughter. “God bless her soul!” Because it was Joe Biden, everyone laughed, including the PM.

3. The time he hit on bikers

Last year, Biden raised some eyebrows during a routine campaign stop at a diner in Ohio when he cuddled up to a female biker. Her male companions were visibly unpleased:

“I know who runs the show,” Biden cracked to the guys.

4. The time he even pissed Obama off

Back in 2008, Biden made a joke that genuinely irritated President Obama. It happened when Obama asked Biden to swear in the White House Senior Staff, and Biden, having already sworn in several cabinet members, was briefly confused as to why they were doing the same thing twice. When Obama cleared up the confusion, Biden realized the mistake and quipped, “My memory is not as good as Justice Roberts.”

This was a reference to Roberts’ own flub on Inauguration Day, when he misspoke while administering the oath of office. Obama’s scowl was visible.

5. The entire Senate swearing-in ceremony

Speaking of swearing in, Biden’s conduct early this year during the Senate swearing-in Ceremony was a cornucopia of awkwardness, with the vice president hitting on grandmothers, threatening to frisk Senators-elect and, at one point, complimenting a man’s pectoral muscles. All in jest, of course.

Despite all of this, Biden loves and values his job. He made that much clear earlier this year when, shortly after being re-elected vice president, he proclaimed that he's “proud to be president of the United States.”