Politics is a weird business. One minute you're debating multi-billion dollar infrastructure bills and the next, the internet is obsessing over a three-second clip of a greeting. If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve likely seen the chatter. The joe biden and kathy hochul kiss became one of those flashpoint moments that people either ignored entirely or analyzed like it was the Zapruder film.
But what actually happened? Was it a "scandal," a gaffe, or just a standard, if slightly awkward, political greeting?
Honestly, context is everything here. We’ve seen Joe Biden—a politician from an era where "pressing the flesh" and being physically expressive was the norm—interact with dozens of governors this way. Whether it’s a hug, a hand on a shoulder, or a peck on the cheek, it’s his brand of retail politics. When he met with New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the cameras caught a moment that the "extremely online" crowd immediately turned into a meme.
The Viral Clip: Breaking Down the Interaction
The interaction occurred during a period of high-stakes collaboration between the White House and Albany. At the time, Hochul was acting as a primary surrogate for the President’s agenda, appearing on cable news to defend his administration's policies while simultaneously asking for federal help with the migrant crisis in New York City.
When they met, the greeting was brief. It was a standard "political peck"—the kind of cheek-to-cheek air kiss you see at every gala from Manhattan to D.C.
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Critics, of course, took the footage and ran with it. Social media accounts known for "clip-chipping" (taking small segments of video out of context) framed the joe biden and kathy hochul kiss as an example of the President being "too close" or "awkward." This isn't a new narrative for Biden. For years, he’s faced scrutiny for his tactile style of communication. Remember the Lucy Flores allegations from 2019? Biden eventually addressed those by saying he would be "more mindful" of personal space, acknowledging that the norms of physical interaction had shifted.
On the other side, supporters saw the moment as a sign of a strong, unified front between the state and federal government. To them, it was just two allies saying hello.
Why This Specific Moment Blew Up
Timing is a funny thing. This interaction didn't happen in a vacuum. It happened while Governor Hochul was under immense pressure. Her lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, had recently broken ranks, and her own approval ratings were fluctuating.
When a politician is under fire, every movement is magnified.
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- The "Optics" Game: In the world of 24-hour news, a photo or a five-second video is more powerful than a 50-page policy white paper.
- The Gender Dynamic: People often scrutinize how male leaders interact with female colleagues far more closely than they do male-to-male greetings.
- Political Loyalty: Hochul has been one of Biden's most steadfast defenders. Even when other Democrats were whispering about the 2024 ticket, she remained "in it to win it" with him.
The joe biden and kathy hochul kiss wasn't just about a greeting; it became a Rorschach test for how people felt about the Democratic establishment. If you liked them, it was a warm greeting. If you didn't, it was "cringe."
Comparing the Biden-Hochul Dynamic to Other Leaders
It’s worth noting that Kathy Hochul isn't the only leader Biden has greeted warmly. We’ve seen similar interactions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and various European leaders. In those contexts, it’s often described as "diplomatic warmth."
However, domestic politics is a different beast.
When Biden visited Sarah Lawrence College or SUNY Westchester to campaign for Hochul, the physical camaraderie was always there. They were often seen walking with arms around each other or sharing a close huddle. For a Governor fighting a tough battle against opponents like Lee Zeldin in previous cycles, that presidential "embrace"—literally and figuratively—was a vital signal of support to the donor class and the base.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Political "Kisses"
Basically, we tend to over-pathologize these moments. In the "real world," people hug and kiss on the cheek all the time, especially in Italian-American or older Irish-American circles, which both Biden and New York politics are heavily influenced by.
The idea that there was some "hidden meaning" or "scandalous intent" behind the joe biden and kathy hochul kiss doesn't really hold up under expert scrutiny. Body language experts often point out that these are "performative greetings"—they are meant to show the audience that the two people on stage are friends and allies.
The real story wasn't the kiss itself, but the political alliance it represented. Hochul needed federal money for the subway system and the migrant crisis; Biden needed a loyal governor in a massive media market like New York. The greeting was the "theatre" of the deal.
Lessons for Navigating Viral Political Moments
If you’re trying to make sense of these kinds of stories in the future, it helps to look past the thumbnail.
- Watch the Full Video: Usually, the "awkward" moment is about 0.5 seconds of a 10-minute interaction.
- Check the Source: Who is posting the clip? If it’s a partisan PAC, they have an incentive to make it look as bad (or as good) as possible.
- Look for the Policy: Usually, these "gaffe" stories break right when something much more important—like a budget vote or a legislative shift—is happening.
The joe biden and kathy hochul kiss serves as a perfect case study in how modern media works. It’s fast, it’s visual, and it’s often totally disconnected from the actual work being done in the Capitol. Whether you found it endearing or slightly outdated, it’s a reminder that in the age of the smartphone, there is no such thing as a "private" greeting for a public official.
To stay truly informed, prioritize reading the official transcripts of the meetings where these interactions occur. Often, the words spoken during the press conference provide the real "meat" of the story, whereas the viral clips provide only the "noise." Keep an eye on the upcoming State of the State addresses and federal budget proposals to see if the warmth shown in these greetings actually translates into the legislative wins both leaders are looking for.