Joe Biden brags of knowing 'foreign leaders by their first names'... conveniently leaving out his string of embarrassing gaffes
Joe Biden made the claim as he called on delegates to accept Harris
REUTERS
Joe Biden has boasted about "knowing foreign leaders by their first names" in a swipe at Donald Trump - ignoring a litany of naming mix-ups over the last few months which have plagued the outgoing President.
Speaking on the main stage at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Biden hailed his own familiarity with international counterparts as he lambasted Trump's claim the US was a "failing nation".
He said: "I'm going to say something outrageous: I know more foreign leaders by their first names - and know them well - than anybody alive".
But in 2024 alone, Biden has muddled up a list of world leaders, including adversaries and allies alike.
Biden said: "I know more foreign leaders by their first names - and know them well - than anybody alive"
REUTERSMost notably, he introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as "President Putin" at a Nato summit last month - just days before internal party pressure forced him to drop out of the race.
Alongside mixing up the two warring heads of state, he confused Putin for Chinese premier Xi Jinping in a sit-down interview with Time magazine, prompting the publication to admit: "Biden appeared to mean Xi here, not Putin".
Biden himself has even admitted he "sometimes confuses names" - including when he appeared to refer to murder victim Laken Riley as "Lincoln Riley" in his State of the Union address back in March.
Elsewhere, the 81-year-old has mistaken former German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her deceased predecessor Helmut Kohl, as well as French President Emmanuel Macron for his - also dead - predecessor Francois Mitterand.
READ MORE ON THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE:
Kamala Harris began her speech with a thank you to Joe Biden for his service
REUTERS
It's not just names Biden has stumbled over - in a toe-curling meeting with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, he mixed up Gaza and Ukraine twice earlier this year.
But last night at DNC, he quipped that his familiarity with the list of leaders was because "I'm so damn old".
Biden made the remarks as top Democrats from across the country gathered for their party's four-day national convention in Chicago to crown Harris as their party’s best hope to defeat Republican candidate Donald Trump.
President Biden's appearance at the event comes after he was pressured to quit the race by party leaders worried the 81-year-old incumbent was too old to win or serve another four years.
Harris is expected to formally accept the Democratic nomination on the final day of the convention on Thursday night before delegates, supporters and party faithful.
Polls a month ago showed Trump with a clear lead over Biden, but Harris has closed the gap both nationally and in many of the highly competitive states, including Pennsylvania, that will play a decisive role in the election.
Kamala Harris was welcomed with rapturous applause
REUTERS
Addressing DNC delegates, Clinton thanked Joe Biden for his time as PresidentREUTERSIf elected on November 5, Harris would make US history as the first female president.
Earlier at the convention, Kamala Harris made a brief appearance and thanked Joe Biden for his service.
“Let us fight for the ideals we hold dear and let us always remember, when we fight we win!” Harris said.
“Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation. We are forever grateful.”