‘Embarrassing’: Biden mocked as he mistakenly refers to Kamala Harris as ‘Vice President Trump’
WASHINGTON, DC: During a press conference on Thursday, July 11, President Joe Biden accidentally referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as "Vice President Trump". This slip occurred while he was addressing a question about Harris' qualifications and his confidence in her ability to lead.
This was one of a number of verbal gaffes he made during the event, including mistakenly calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "President Putin".
After a disastrous presidential debate against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump on June 27, Joe Biden's ability to effectively lead the country for another four-year term has come under question.
Joe Biden praises Kamala Harris for her effective handling of various issues
President Biden, who is facing calls from some Democrats to step aside as the party’s nominee, addressed concerns about his viability at the start of his NATO summit press conference, The Hill reported.
“What concerns do you have about Vice President Harris’ ability to beat Donald Trump if she were at the top of the ticket?” a reporter asked.
“Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president [if I didn’t] think she was not qualified to be president, so let’s start there, number one,” Biden said, confusing his running mate with his opponent.
“The fact is the consideration that I think I’m the most qualified person to run for president. I beat him once, and I will beat him again.”
During a recent press conference, President Biden praised Vice President Harris for her effective handling of reproductive rights and her capability to manage a wide range of issues.
Joe Biden laughs off his gaffes
Joe Biden's mix-up came shortly after he mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin”, before correcting himself. When a reporter brought up the error at the press conference, Biden laughed it off, showing his ability to handle such tricky situations with humor.
“Have you seen a more successful conference? What do you think?” Biden responded.
President Biden's recent stumble is drawing significant attention, especially as he faces calls from within his party to step aside as the Democratic nominee for the 2024 election.
Following his poor debate performance last month, many Democrats are worried about his mental sharpness and stamina. They fear he may not be able to effectively campaign against former President Trump and present a compelling case to the American public.
Democrats are keenly observing Biden’s press conference on Thursday evening to assess his ability to respond coherently and sharply to reporters' questions. However, some believe that a single strong performance may not be sufficient to alleviate voters' concerns.
Donald Trump mocks Joe Biden's gaffe
Former President Donald Trump quickly responded on social media following President Joe Biden's error during a recent press conference, New York Post reported.
“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 on Truth Social, in his interpretation of what Biden said.
The Biden campaign responded swiftly on X (formerly known as Twitter) with a tweet from the presumptive Democratic nominee's account.
“By the way: Yes, I know the difference. One’s a prosecutor, and the other’s a felon,” the post read.
By the way: Yes, I know the difference.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 12, 2024
One’s a prosecutor, and the other’s a felon. pic.twitter.com/65kYp6m90Z
Former President Trump has been vocal about President Biden's verbal missteps, sharing clips on Truth Social that highlight instances of Biden stumbling over words and stuttering during a recent briefing. Trump misses no opportunity to criticize Biden's public speaking and cognitive abilities.
Internet reacts to Joe Biden's yet another verbal misstep
As soon as the video of Biden's conference surfaced on the internet, users began reacting to it, calling for him to step aside.
A user wrote, "Just give it up!!!"
Another user mocked, "Bless him, he just can't get rid of that cold."
The third commentator criticized Jill Biden, "Jill, can you just let him retire and enjoy his Denny’s breakfasts, ffs?"
"He's so f-in lost, it's both sad & embarrassing to witness..." one said.
A person remarked, "He’s so out there, unfit for the job. Sad thing is it’s been covered up for so long by the main media."
Another user wrote, "Now can you see it. impeach."
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.