During the NATO Summit on Thursday, President Joe Biden made several significant verbal errors, heightening ongoing calls for him to step aside amid scrutiny over his mental fitness.
In a post-summit news conference, Biden mistakenly referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump” and confused Russian President Vladimir Putin with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The slip-ups drew immediate reactions from journalists and political opponents.
When asked if Harris could defeat Donald Trump if Biden chose not to run for re-election, Biden replied, “I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president if I did not think she was not qualified to be president.” The comment, reported by the New York Post, was met with gasps and groans from the press.
Earlier, at a NATO ceremony, Biden introduced Zelenskyy as Putin before quickly correcting himself. “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,” Biden said, later clarifying his mistake. “I’m so focused on beating President Putin, we’ve got to worry about it.”
The 81-year-old president, already known for occasional verbal slips, has faced increasing scrutiny over his mental fitness. His recent debate against Trump failed to reassure the public, with Biden’s performance criticized as lackluster.
Addressing the mix-up involving Zelenskyy and Putin, Biden defended his remarks. “Did you see any damage to our stand in my leading this conference? Have you seen a more successful conference? What do you think? And the Putin piece—I was talking about Putin, and I said, and now, at the very end, I said here, I mean Putin. I said, no, I’m sorry, Zelenskyy.”
Trump, the Republican presumptive nominee, was quick to mock Biden on his Truth Social site: “Crooked Joe begins his ‘Big Boy’ Press Conference with, ‘I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president… Great job, Joe!”
In an effort to dispel concerns about his cognitive health, Biden cited neurological exams he has undergone. “I’ve taken three significant and intense neurological exams by a neurologist,” he said, the latest being in February. “And they say I’m in good shape.”
Biden also denied reports that he requires an early bedtime, following questions about his debate performance. He stated, “Instead of my every day starting at 7:00 am and going to bed at midnight, it would be smarter for me to pace myself a little more.”
Despite the mounting criticism, Biden asserted his readiness to run for re-election, emphasizing his qualifications and determination. “I think I’m the most qualified person to run for president. I beat him once, and I will beat him again,” he declared, adding that his motivation is not personal legacy but to “complete the job I started.”
