A damp squib to start 2021: Joe and Jill Biden's confetti cannon fails to go off after urging Americans to take the vaccine and saying the US will 'come back stronger' on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
Joe and Jill Biden's 2020 sendoff took an awkward turn on Thursday night after the couple's confetti cannon failed to go off live on air.
The president-elect and future first lady appeared on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on ABC where they delivered a final message to Americans ahead of midnight.
Speaking to host Ryan Seacrest from their home, the couple congratulated essential and healthcare workers on their efforts during the pandemic and encouraged everyone to get vaccinated.
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Oops! Joe and Jill Biden's 2020 sendoff fell flat on New Year's Eve after their confetti popper failed to go off live on air
The two awkwardly struggled to pop the confetti cannon after wishing everyone a happy new year on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin Eve, but the party favor turned out to be a dud
Here is the last interview for President-Elect @JoeBiden and future First Lady @DrBiden in 2020! #RockinEve pic.twitter.com/wcSnlbL8pM
— New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (@NYRE) January 1, 2021
Here is the last interview for President-Elect @JoeBiden and future First Lady @DrBiden in 2020! #RockinEve pic.twitter.com/wcSnlbL8pM
'They did so much, they risked their lives. They've done so much for us, and we owe them, we owe them, we owe them,' Biden said.
'We're so grateful for everything they did. They left their families and their homes so that we could be safe and all Americans truly appreciate what they did for us,' Jill added.
Seacrest then asked if they had anything to share about the new COVID-19 vaccine after the couple were among the first to receive the first doses distributed earlier this month.
The pair congratulated essential and healthcare workers for their efforts in 2020
Jill urged everyone take it 'so we can all be safe', while insisting the shot was painless and resulted in no side effects.
'Oh, you have to take it and it doesn't hurt I promise!,' she said. 'So everybody has to take it so we all can be safe.'
The soon-to-be president then concluded the heartwarming interview with a message of hope to the nation ahead of his inauguration in January.
'America can do anything and I'm absolutely, positively confident, confident, that we're going to come back and come back stronger than before,' he said.
As the interview drew to a close, the couple wished viewers a happy new year before trying to set off a confetti popper.
But the festive party favor turned out to be a dud, resulting in an awkward pause live on air.
Jill was seen struggling to twist the cannon for a few seconds before finally popping the top off with no confetti.
The pair then laughed off the gaffe before signing off.
Mounted NYPD officers in an empty Times Square, Manhattan, New York, ahead of New Years Eve celebrations tonight