Biden joined Northam in Alexandria, Virginia on Friday to tout the state’s progress on Covid-19 vaccinations. 

“We're not just saving lives, we're getting our lives back,” he said. “Stores and restaurants up and down Main Street are hanging 'open' signs on their front doors.”

The president also sang the praises of Northam during his visit, saying he was “doing a hell of a job.”

“Governors like Governor Northam have been instrumental partners,” he said of the governor, whose state – adjacent to Washington, DC – has seen a drop in Covid-19 cases recently and is moving away from pandemic-era restrictions like many other states. 

“Governor, I really mean this. I'm not being political. You’ve done one hell of a job doc. You’ve done a hell of a job and it matters,” he added. 

Numerous critics who heard Biden’s words were quick to point out that in 2019, the Democrat called for Northam’s resignation amidst controversy over a medical school yearbook photo showing the governor either in blackface or KKK robes.

“There is no place for racism in America,” Biden tweeted at the time. “Northam has lost all moral authority and should resign immediately.”

The drastic flip-flop had Republicans roasting Biden’s sudden change of mind about the governor, a fellow Democrat.

“Unity!” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) sarcastically tweeted.