President Joe Biden’s gaffes at a NATO press conference visibly affected leaders and his own senior officials.
While the 81-year-old introduced Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “President Putin” of Russia, that was not even the worst of his verbal fumbles. In another moment, Biden referred to his own vice president by the name of his election rival and White House predecessor.
NATO leaders caught in a video clip by C-SPAN offered hesitant applause after Biden introduced the Russian president rather than Ukraine’s. Though the president attempted to set things right, the nervous and confused look on the faces of leaders could not be denied.
“Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” Biden said, prompting gasps before he added, “President Putin? You’re going to beat President Putin.”
.@NATO leaders react to President Biden mistakenly introducing President Zelenskiy as “President Putin”. pic.twitter.com/V8rNfpY3Sj
— Jeremy Art (@cspanJeremy) July 11, 2024
In a speech at the annual NATO summit. defending himself and his determination to stay in the election race, Biden flubbed a reference to Vice President Kamala Harris.
He forgot Kamala’s name?
“Vice President Trump”Well – she is forgettable.
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) July 11, 2024
“Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president if I think she’s not qualified to be president,” he said to a shocked response.
Biden: “Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president if I didn’t think she’s not qualified to be president, so we’ll start there.” pic.twitter.com/ib4WwC27pR
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 11, 2024
A C-SPAN clip shared on social media showed the reaction from top administration officials. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan certainly appeared to be working to hold reactions in check.
Oof. That body language. https://t.co/2EkA5SUqlA
— Kira (@RealKiraDavis) July 12, 2024
Reactions on social media were not kind after Biden’s “big boy press conference” at Washington’s Convention Center.
“Crooked Joe has a case of Trump Derangement Syndrome!” former President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Crooked Joe begins his ‘Big Boy’ Press Conference with, ‘I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president, though I think she was not qualified to be president.’ Great job, Joe!” Trump wrote in another post.
Sorry to hear his cold came back. Or is it the stutter? Or the jet lag ?
No . This had to be a cheap fake.
— A.marzouk (@amarzouk4real) July 11, 2024
Sullivan crying inside
— Christy (@PotFullOfFrogs) July 12, 2024
Don’t react don’t react don’t react…
— 🌱 Quipple 🌿 (@Quipple) July 12, 2024
You can see the dread just washing through their bodies.
I watched it in super slow motion & it’s marvelous.
— Eric Pistey (@shawnpisteySC) July 12, 2024
Would definitely rather play poker against Sullivan than Austin.
— Barry Johnson (@MplsBarry) July 12, 2024
