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As the U.S. presidential election draws closer, President Joe Biden sparked controversy by wearing a red cap associated with Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Biden wore the Make America Great Again, MAGA, cap at an event to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

During a visit to firefighters in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, near where one of the four hijacked planes crashed, videos showed the president having a friendly chat with a Trump supporter before they swapped headgear.

In the video, Biden offers a Trump supporter donning a campaign cap another hat with the presidential seal on it, saying he would autograph it.

The man then asks Biden if he would sign it with his name on it.

Responding jocularly, Biden said “I don’t remember my name, I’m slow.”

After an exchange about his age, Biden hands the man the autographed cap and offers to trade it for the Trump hat, which he wore briefly, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Volume up.

"I need that hat"

Joe Biden is officially team MAGA now.

He hates Kamala (who doesn't except childless cat ladies and mentally ill trannies?)

— Rising serpent 🇺🇸 (@rising_serpent)

The action immediately drew comments from social media users, with Trump’s campaign thanking Biden for the “support”.

But, a statement issued by the White House said Biden’s gesture was a way to underline the unity theme of the day.

The deputy White House Press Secretary, Andrew Bates said: “As a gesture, he gave a hat to a Trump supporter who then said that in the same spirit, POTUS should put on his Trump cap.”