Joe Biden has found himself in yet another excruciating gaffe after mistakenly claiming he commuted over Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge via car and train.
Biden, 81, made the comments just hours after shocking footage showed the structure collapsing after a collision with a container ship at 1.30am local time (5.30am GMT).
The 46th President was making public remarks following the catastrophe but appeared to falsely claim the bridge was accessible via rail.
He said: "At about 1.30[am], a container ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which I’ve been over many, many times commuting from the state of Delaware either on a train or by car."
Joe Biden delivers remarks on the collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore
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He added: “I’ve been to Baltimore Harbor many times. And the bridge collapsed, sending several people and vehicles into the water - into the river.”
However, Francis Scott Key Bridge did not have any railway lines and was exclusively used as a roadway since it was erected in the 1970s.
The White House later clarified that the 46th President was referring only to driving over the bridge during his commuting years.
Biden has spoken in detail about his journeys from Delaware and Washington while serving as a Senator between 1973 and 2009.
The Amtrak lines does travel through Baltimore but it does not pass through the harbour and instead skirts around the city centre.
Yesterday's devastating incident resulted in local authorities launching a rescue mission in the Patapsco River.
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Baltimore bridge crashes into river after being struck by large boatGB NEWSSix construction workers have been presumed dead as emergency services continued their search.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who was in contact with Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg, declared a state of emergency following the incident.
The White House also issued a statement ahead of Biden's comments about the incident.
It said: "Our hearts go out to the families of those who remain missing as a result of this horrific incident."
Despite yet another blunder, Biden appears to have narrowed Donald Trump's lead in the opinion polls.
Trump's average lead was cut to just 1.6 per cent, polling aggregator Real Clear Politics has claimed.
A recent Morning Consult opinion poll even handed Biden a one-point lead over Trump.
Joe Biden is narrowing Donald Trump's leads despite his recent blunders
REUTERS
However, Biden was 7.1 per cent ahead of Trump this time four years ago.
It also might not be enough even if the Morning Consult survey was emulated on polling day.
Despite trailing in the popular vote by 2.1 per cent, Trump won the 2016 election against ex-First Lady Hillary Clinton.
He managed to pave a path to the White House by winning a number of Rust Belt states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
A one-point lead for Biden could still enable Trump to win back a number of swing states, with Arizona and Georgia potentially proving crucial to the White House.
