Former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris recently attended the funeral of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, following their deaths in a suspected politically driven assault. The two leaders sat side by side during the Catholic mass and were later seen clasping hands during prayer.

The private service took place Saturday morning, June 28, at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. Over 1000 people were in attendance, including members of Congress, state officials, and friends of the couple.

Biden wore a black suit and navy tie, while Harris appeared in a dark coat dress pinned with a remembrance button. As the congregation rose for the Lord’s Prayer, the two held each other’s hands in a moment of stillness.

However, many netizens were concerned about Biden’s posture and health during the service. “He doesn’t look well. Very sad,” one Instagrammer wrote. “So weird,” another added.

One person suggested that Harris was “trying to keep him from falling down or wandering off.” This view was shared by a few others, with one commenter remarking, “She’s holding him up,” and another saying, “She was holding him up.”

Still, many viewers were moved by their presence at the funeral. One Facebooker described their attendance as a testament to “heart and class,” while another called the moment “so tragic,” adding that “Joe and Kamala are such sweet, kind people.”

The funeral came after a memorial held the day before in the Minnesota Capitol Rotunda, for people to pay their respects to the Hortmans and their dog, Gilbert, It is reported that the late lawmaker is the first woman in the state’s history to receive this honor.

The former president visited the Capitol that afternoon to pay his respects and meet privately with the couple’s children. At the funeral mass, Governor Tim Walz, who served as a pallbearer, described the Hortmans as devoted public servants whose lives were rooted in service and joy.

“Melissa Hortman will be remembered as the most consequential speaker in Minnesota history,” he said, recalling that she had passed several bills into law over her 11-term tenure in the state House.

During the mass, Father Dan Griffith spoke about the couple’s warmth and hospitality, saying their home was affectionately called the “Hortman Hotel.” Colin Hortman, the couple’s son, offered a closing prayer and read from a copy of the Prayer of St. Francis, which had been found in his mother’s wallet.

According to federal prosecutors, on June 14, the murder suspect, 57-year-old Vance Boelter, impersonated a law enforcement officer and fatally shot the Hortmans inside their home in Brooklyn Park. The couple’s dog was also killed.

Over an hour before they were attacked, Boelter allegedly shot and injured another state lawmaker, Senator John Hoffman, and his wife. The incident, which officials have called politically motivated, has prompted renewed conversations about political extremism and safety.

Boelter has recently been charged in federal court with two counts of murder, two counts of stalking, and weapons violations. Prosecutors have not ruled out pursuing the death penalty but a parallel state case may proceed with charges that could carry a life sentence without parole.

Melissa, who was 55 at the time of her death, served in the legislature for two decades. Trained as an attorney, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston University, a law degree from the University of Minnesota, and a master’s in public administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

She is survived by her two children. Her colleagues across party lines remembered her for her pragmatism, wit, and unwavering focus on improving people’s lives.