President Joe Biden appeared with a mysterious mark on his right cheekbone during a White House event on Monday, celebrating the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act alongside actress Selma Blair and her service dog Scout. The mark was not visible on Sunday when Biden spoke to reporters about the government funding deal.
The discoloration seemed to have disappeared by the time Biden attended a cabinet meeting later on Monday afternoon. The White House did not immediately respond to inquiries about the mark's origin. Biden has previously shown marks from a CPAP mask used for sleep apnea.
During the event, Biden escorted Blair and her English Labrador from the White House to the South Lawn stage. Blair, 51, who walks with a cane, wore a white skirt suit with sparkling embellishments. She directed her dog to lie down near Biden's feet, and when the president bent to pet Scout, Blair said 'yeah, stay,' causing Biden to straighten up.
Blair praised the late activist Judy Heumann, who helped secure the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 'The push towards equity continues,' Blair said. 'Our laws and policies must reflect that our disabled lives are not of lesser value.' Blair, who wrote the memoir 'Mean Baby' about her battle with multiple sclerosis, has undergone experimental stem cell and chemotherapy treatment.
Biden noted that both laws received bipartisan support and said they ensure 'the American dream is for all of us, not just for some of us.' After his remarks, he spent about 30 minutes talking to guests and taking selfies, even signing 'I love you' in American Sign Language to a young boy.
