President Joe Biden continues to remain in virtual hiding since being kicked out of the 2024 presidential race by members of his own party. 

According to the New York Post, many expected to see the president in Paris for the Olympics as a representation of the United States and its pride in competing, as past presidents have done.

However, the elderly, confused president recently told reporters and Olympic athletes that the reason he didn't attend the Olympics this year was because "they" barred him from attending, sowing confusion as to what he meant.

Biden told the reporters and athletes that because he causes "commotion" wherever he goes, it was decided that he would not be attending the Olympic Games.

What did he say?

During a gathering of hundreds of Olympic and Paralympic athletes on the White House lawn, Biden explained why he, as the U.S. president, was not able to come cheer them on.

“Because I’m president and I cause commotion when I go places, they wouldn’t let me go the Olympics. But I watched it all. Jill, my wife, went to the Olympics," Biden said.

The president seemingly promised those in attendance that he wouldn't miss another Olympics, with the next one being held in 2028 in Los Angeles.

“The Los Angeles summer games in ’28 — I won’t be president. They can’t stop me from going there then," Biden said.

The Post noted:

Biden routinely blames unspecified staff — or a vague “they” — for restricting his movements or freedom to call on reporters whose names aren’t on an approved list — drawing ridicule due to the fact that he holds the world’s most powerful job.

It was noted that it's unclear as to whether or not Biden was simply using an excuse for not going or if he was actually told that it was not in his best interest to attend, even though several former presidents have done so.

Social media reacts

Many across social media had their own opinions as to why Biden skipped the Paris Olympics.

"They barred Sleepy Joe because they thought he was so cognitively in decline that he couldn't understand what was happening at the Olympics anyway!" one X user wrote.

Biden says ‘they’ barred him from attending Olympics — even though other presidents went https://t.co/BSBtjpWXko pic.twitter.com/ZoaHuvKO4k

— New York Post (@nypost) September 30, 2024

Given his current cognitive state, many doubt he'll be able to attend anything outside of assisted living by the time 2028 rolls around.