Joe Biden drew attention during a portrait unveiling ceremony at Syracuse University School of Law when he singled out a man in the audience he said reminded him of President Barack Obama, leading to an awkward but widely discussed moment.

While speaking at the event held at his alma mater, Biden noticed Jeffrey Scruggs, chairman of the school’s Board of Trustees, and joked about the resemblance. “I always want to turn around to one guy and say … ‘Barack, what are you doing?’” Biden said.

The remark referred to Scruggs, who was seated in the audience. Biden then called him forward to the stage, repeatedly urging him to come up despite initial hesitation.

“Come here, come here, come here, come here … come here,” Biden said, motioning him forward.

After Scruggs eventually joined him at the podium, Biden continued the comparison, joking about their positions on stage. “I feel like he should be standing on the right and I should be standing on the left,” he said, as the audience laughed.

Biden then turned to those in attendance and asked, “Doesn’t he look like Barack?” Scruggs responded with a shake of his head, appearing to disagree with the comparison.

Wrapping up the exchange, Biden added, “As they say, you’ve done good, fella,” prompting Scruggs to reply, “Well, you know, I try.”

According to reports, Scruggs had earlier mentioned backstage that his daughter wanted him to ask Biden whether he resembled Obama. The moment on stage was intended, at least in part, to relay that message.

The exchange sparked debate online, with some social media users agreeing with Biden’s observation while others criticized the remark.

“He does look like Barack though,” one X user argued. “The hair, the face shape, the suit.”

“Low key he does look like him!” another user chimed in.

“That dude does genuinely look like Obama,” read another X comment.