Joe Biden's Faux Pas Continues - Introduces Zelensky As 'President Putin'

At the NATO summit on Thursday, US President Joe Biden mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as Russian President Vladimir Putin. The gaffe occurred just hours before a high-stakes press conference, heightening concerns about Biden's mental acuity, especially after a poor debate performance against Donald Trump two weeks ago.

During the announcement of a NATO-Ukraine compact at the summit in Washington, 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."

Realising the mistake, he turned away from the lectern before quickly returning and exclaiming, "President Putin! He's going to beat President Putin. President Zelensky -- I'm so focused on beating Putin we gotta worry about it. Anyway, Mr. President."

The error drew audible gasps from the room, but Zelensky, Ukraine's wartime leader against Russia's 2022 invasion, laughed it off, quipping that he was "better" than Putin. Fellow leaders at the summit offered their support for Biden, reported AFP.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz remarked, "Slips of the tongue happen, and if you keep a close enough eye on everyone, you will find enough." French President Emmanuel Macron noted that Biden appeared "in charge," while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer commented that Biden "was on good form."

This verbal slip came at a particularly challenging time for Biden, as he was due to hold an important press conference later that day, described by the White House as a "big boy" press conference. This would be his first major appearance since the debate and was seen as crucial for his reelection campaign. The press conference was scheduled for 6:30 pm (2230 GMT) but was expected to be delayed by about an hour.

Pressure has been mounting within the Democratic Party for Biden to consider stepping aside. High-profile figures like Hollywood actor George Clooney and party grandee Nancy Pelosi have voiced their concerns, with Clooney explicitly calling on Biden to exit the race.

Around 14 Democratic members of the House of Representatives and one Democratic senator have openly urged Biden to drop out. A recent poll revealed that over half of Democrats believe Biden should end his bid for a second term, with two-thirds of Americans agreeing.

Despite this, Biden and Trump remain tied in the polls, each holding 46 percent according to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos survey. In response to the mounting pressure, Biden's campaign has been quietly assessing Vice President Kamala Harris' potential in a match-up against Trump. Some of Biden's long-time aides have been discussing ways to persuade him to step aside, although the White House has denied these reports as "unequivocally" false.

Biden has faced criticism for his limited engagement with the press, having given fewer news conferences than his predecessors. His recent appearances have been tightly controlled, with questions restricted to foreign leaders. This, coupled with a lack of interviews, has led critics to accuse the White House of trying to conceal the effects of age on America's oldest president.

Biden attributed his poor debate performance to a "bad night," blaming it on a cold and jet lag. However, Clooney countered this narrative, stating that signs of decline were evident even at a June 15 fundraiser in Los Angeles he hosted, describing it as "devastating."

Despite the growing calls for him to step aside, Biden has remained committed to running in November. With the Democratic primary votes in his favor, there is no clear mechanism to force him out. In a counter-move, Biden's campaign launched a new ad on the last day of the NATO summit, portraying Trump as a "lap dog" of Putin.

NATO allies have sought reassurance about Biden's leadership abilities, particularly amid fears that Trump's potential return, with his isolationist and Putin-praising stance, could destabilize the alliance.