In perhaps his last chance to prove his fitness to a skeptical crowd, President Joe Biden committed two shocking gaffes in his latest public speech. Biden fumbled on four of the most identifiable names and faces in the current political climate, calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “President Putin” and calling his own Vice President Kamala Harris “Vice President Trump.”
Irony and Inappropriateness
The gaffe could not have been more ironic or inappropriate, as Zelensky’s country of Ukraine has been assailed by forces invading Russia at the hand of tyrannical dictator Vladimir Putin.
Crowd’s Reaction
The crowd was visibly shocked, as even the non-Native English speakers from the NATO panel immediately noticed the mistake.
The Mistake
Biden said, “And now I want to hand it over to the President of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination. Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin.“
Audience Reaction
Reports say many noticed the gaffe and appeared to gasp and wince as Biden spoke the erroneous name. Another audience member corrected the President, shouting, “Zelensky.”
Uncertainty Among NATO Members
After Biden’s mistake, the other NATO members on stage were uncertain how to react: whether to ignore the mistake and cheer for Zelensky or wait for Biden to correct his error.
Biden’s Apology
Biden did apologize and attempted to explain himself, stating he was “so focused on beating” Putin that his name came out.
Rest of the Speech
President Biden made it through the rest of his speech without any significant alarming statements. Biden used a teleprompter throughout the speech.
Solo Press Conference Mix-Up
Later that day, in a rare solo press conference, Biden called Vice President Harris “Vice President Trump” in another shocking mixup.
First Question Response
In responding to the first question in the solo press conference, which requires mental agility to field all sorts of questions from the press crew, Biden replied, “Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president if I think she’s not qualified to be president.”
Reporter Points Out Mistake
A reporter later in the press conference pointed out the mistake and asked Biden for his comment on the glaring error. Biden did not give a direct answer.
Press Conference Purpose
Biden took on the burden of the press conference to prove his readiness for another four years as President.
Democratic Lawmakers’ Response
Despite his performance at the press conference and NATO events, many of the 16 Democratic lawmakers have called him to step aside and allow another younger Democrat to run.
Democratic Donors’ Reaction
Many large Democratic donors also pull their support until an alternative candidate is selected.
Renewed Concerns
The press conference did not assuage the concerns of many House Democrats, who renewed their concerns in the wake of it. Rep. Jim Hines from Connecticut and Rep. Scott Peters from California renewed calls for Biden to step aside and exit the Presidential race. Peters said, “The stakes are high, and we are on a losing course.”
