WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden is facing significant wrath online after a viral video allegedly showed him ‘kicking’ his younger dog Commander, who has been ousted from the White House following a series of biting incidents involving the staff and US Secret Service officers.
"Commander is not presently on the White House campus while next steps are evaluated," First Lady Jill Biden’s spokesperson Elizabeth Alexander announced in a statement on Wednesday, October 4.
Alexander did not provide any information regarding where Commander was sent but asserted that “President and First Lady care deeply about the safety of those who work at the White House and those who protect them every day.”
Commander, a 2-year-old purebred German shepherd, was removed from the White House just days after he attacked a Secret Service agent in his 11th known biting incident since he arrived at the White House as a puppy in 2021.
Why did Joe Biden kick Commander?
The now-viral video, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views, captured the 80-year-old president struggling to control Commander as they departed an army chopper.
At one point, Commander was seen rushing toward the First Lady when he apparently tripped Biden by wrapping the leash around his legs. That was when Biden ‘kicked’ his dog to make him jump inside the car.
This came after a source told Judicial Watch that the POTUS mistreated the Commander and even punched or kicked him in the past.
Following Commander’s vicious attack on September 25, aides to the First Lady noted that the attacks were the result of the stress that the dog felt from being at the White House.
“As we’ve noted before, the White House can be a stressful environment for family pets, and the first family continues to work on ways to help the Commander handle the often unpredictable nature of the White House grounds,” said Alexander, according to NY Times.
In July, authorities stated that they were working on additional leashing guidelines and training, as well as designating spaces for Commander to run and exercise.
“This isn’t a Secret Service thing. This is a workplace safety issue,” former USSS agent Jonathan Wackrow told CNN.
“There’s uniqueness here where it’s the residence of the president of the United States, but it’s also the workplace for hundreds, thousands of people. And you can’t bring a hazard into the workplace. And that’s what is essentially happening with this dog. One time you can say it’s an accident, but now multiple incidents, it’s a serious issue,” he continued.
Internet reacts to Joe Biden kicking Commander
The shocking video of Biden allegedly kicking Commander has garnered immense social media attention, with users slamming the POTUS for mistreating the dog.
“Horrible dog owners. Both are too old for a dog. Now a second dog shipped off to a shelter. The dog obviously is NOT happy with them either,” one user said.
“A guy who can barely handle himself had no business trying to handle a dog at the same time,” a second user fumed.
“He brought the dog as a prop to soften his image but that didn’t go too well,” the third user said while another wrote, “Wrong dog for the wrong person! The dog's behavior has more to do with the way Biden trained it and treats it!!!”
“That is BAD. He’s a horrible person for not knowing how to handle his beautiful pet and then abusing it for not being trained. So infuriating ??” someone else asserted.
