Frail Biden Appears at Rhode Island Car Show with Jay Leno
Former President showcases his classic Corvette and accepts an award at the Audrain Newport Concours d’Elegance.
A visibly frail former President Joe Biden made a surprise appearance in Newport, Rhode Island, on Sunday at the Audrain Newport Concours d’Elegance car show. Video shared on social media showed the 83-year-old waving to onlookers before walking stiffly to his Secret Service protection vehicle.
Biden spent part of the day with car collectors and enthusiasts, bringing his classic green 1967 Corvette Sting Ray to the event. Comedian and car aficionado Jay Leno, who also appeared at the event, was seen chatting with Biden. Organizers presented Biden with a quilted jacket bearing his name and a lifetime membership to the Audrain Automobile Museum. His Corvette received the ‘Spirit of Audrain Award’.
The former president also brought his grandson, Robert Hunter Biden II, to the event. Biden's public activities have been limited since he withdrew from his reelection campaign in July 2024 and passed leadership of the country to President Donald Trump in January 2025. In May 2025, he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.
Biden’s Corvette has long been a prized possession and a notable part of his public identity. The four-speed Stingray was a wedding gift from his father, who owned a car dealership. The vehicle was featured on Jay Leno’s Garage in 2016, where Biden was shown driving it at speeds exceeding 118 mph.
During his 2020 presidential campaign, Biden featured his car in a video, pledging to revitalize the American auto industry. He stated at the time, 'I love this car. Nothing but incredible memories. Every time I get in I think about my dad and Beau.' Classified documents were also located in a box in Biden's garage in January 2023, near the Corvette, according to evidence photos.