Biden tells boy to “steal a pumpkin” during a “boring” speech.

President Biden on Monday told a boy he could “steal a pumpkin” to avoid his “boring” Thanksgiving speech to members of the North Carolina Marine Corps.

Biden, 80, made the surprising jolt of humor as he approached the eldest of four children whose Marine Corps mother had just introduced the president.

The well-behaved boy had been babysitting two of his three younger siblings while his mother spoke and his father held the family’s squirming toddler.

“This must be boring, boring, boring for these kids standing up here,” Biden said, grabbing the boy’s shoulder. “You can do anything you want, including stealing a pumpkin if you want – anything you want.”

The boy preferred instead to listen politely to the President.

There were pumpkins decorating the Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, NC, and Biden’s attempts at humor continued – following his morning apology for turkey – as he told troops that “the reason we came the cook is not bad”.

Biden told the soldiers more seriously about his family’s experiences with his late son, Beau Biden, who worked overseas in the military, and commended the families of the troops who are enduring their absence.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything you’ve done. By the way, I serve mashed potatoes, so come see me,” Biden said.

After wrapping up, the president snapped a cellphone selfie with the family and whispered something in the baby’s ear — before donning an apron and scooping up mashed potatoes while First Lady Jill Biden filled in an assembly line buffet.

The President was then quickly passed what appeared to be an ice cream bowl before he and the First Lady greeted the troops, including sitting for talks and posing for photos.