As US President Joe Biden addressed NATO in Washington, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky was mistaken for his Russian rival Putin, just hours before he was set to hold a press conference that may determine whether or not he runs for a fourth term.
In response, Biden quickly clarified his statement, and Zelensky joked that he was “better” than Putin. Biden quickly corrected himself following the gaffe, however a disastrous performance against Donald Trump in the recent debate has further raised concerns about his mental acuity.
At the summit in Washington, he announced a NATO-Ukraine compact that he said would take effect if the Ukrainian president were to sign it. Speaking as he announced the agreement, Biden said, “Now I want to turn the ball over to the president of Ukraine, who has the same courage and determination as myself.”
As Biden turned away from the podium, he made a loud exclamation, “President Putin!” He said, “President Putin is going to lose. President Zelensky – I am so focused on beating Putin that we aren’t going to bother about anything else.”.
As a result of the error, gasps could be heard in the room, but Zelensky, the Ukrainian wartime leader who had defended the country against Russian invasion in 2022, laughed it off.
In response to questions asked of them by their peers at the summit, the responses have largely been supportive of Biden’s candidacy.
Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor and his ministers were quick to point out that slips of the tongue happen from time to time, and that if one keeps a close watch on everyone, one will find out what happened,” Scholz said.
Emmanuel Macron, the president of the French Republic, said Biden had appeared to be “in charge,” while Keir Starmer, prime minister of the United Kingdom, said he seemed “in good spirits.”
As it turns out, Biden’s latest slip of the tongue couldn’t have come at a worse time, since he is scheduled to appear at a press conference later Thursday, which White House officials have called a “big boy” press conference, his first big appearance since the debate.
As a result of the solo appearance, a rare unscripted opportunity for him to meet with reporters, he is under increased pressure in his Democratic Party for him to step down.
In spite of the fact that the press conference was scheduled for 6:30 pm (2230 GMT), the event is expected to run around an hour late.
The pressure is increasing
A steady drumbeat has been heard from a number of Democrats who are seeking to have Biden drop out of the running for president in 2024.
The actor George Clooney, a well-known Democratic supporter and one of the more influential members of the party, called upon Biden to withdraw from the race, and Nancy Pelosi has not fully endorsed him either.
As many as fourteen Democratic House members, as well as one Democratic senator, have openly urged the man who beat Trump four years ago to withdraw, while one Democratic senator is openly backing the former president.
Over half of Democrats have voiced their support for ending Biden’s bid for a second term in office, and two-thirds of Americans believe Biden should withdraw from the race for the presidency.
The Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll conducted by its partner, Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos, shows, however, that the former president and the current president remain evenly matched on 46 percent.
As The New York Times reported on Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign quietly tested the strength of his opponent in a potential matchup against Candidate Donald Trump.
It is also reported by the paper, which cites anonymous sources, that some of the president’s longtime aides had discussed ways of persuading him that it would be best for him to step aside.
There was no doubt that the report was false, according to the White House.
Biden, once known as one of the more talkative politicians in the country, now gives fewer news conferences than his predecessors, and they are typically held with foreign leaders that only allow two questions to be asked.
In addition to the absence of interviews, critics have accused the White House of shielding the effects of aging on America’s oldest president by covering up the symptoms of his age.
A cold and jet lag have been attributed to Biden’s meltdown in the debate, as he called it a “bad night.”
In spite of this, Clooney attempted to torpedo any idea that this was a one-time event by saying that while admitting to it was “devastating,” the signs were also evident at a June 15 fundraiser he was hosting in Los Angeles.
It has been argued that Biden has made a strong commitment to running for president in November, and with his win in the Democratic party primaries already firmly in his pocket, it is unlikely that he can be forced to resign.
On Thursday, his campaign launched a new advertisement campaign where he portrays Trump as a “lap dog” of Russian President Vladimir Putin, pushing back against what was said during the NATO summit.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as well as NATO’s allies, have sought reassurance about Biden’s leadership capabilities and their concerns that a return of the isolationist, Putin-praising Trump could spell trouble for the alliance if he were to return.
Timenews1 provided that news.
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