US President Joe Biden has left the Democrats in "purgatory" following his latest gaffes at the Nato Summit, it has been claimed.
The 81-year-old leader of the United States sparked further concern for his cognitive health during the gathering of world leaders in Washington DC, after introducing Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky as Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In another embarrassing gaffe, the President also referred to his Vice President Kamala Harris as "Vice President Trump", leaving his team sitting in the front row stone-faced.
Speaking to GB News about Biden's declining health, founding director of the UCL centre on US politics, Doctor Thomas Gift, said the latest slip up in a series of errors is the "worst of all worlds" for the Democrats in the lead up to the August converntion.
Dr Thomas Gift says Joe Biden has 'left the Democrats in purgatory' about whether he will stand down
Reuters / GB News
Gift explained: "Biden had enough flubs that it certainly won't reassure critics.
"But it was good enough when he was talking about foreign policy and how the United States is going to deal with China and Russia, that he could plausibly make a case for staying in the race."
Noting Biden's reassurance that only "God almighty" can make him withdraw from the election, Gift told GB News that the party appears to be in "purgatory" about what Biden will decide closer to the time.
Gift said: "We still seem to be in this purgatory where everyone's asking, will he stay? Will he go?
US President Joe Biden suffered his latest gaffe after introducing Volodymyr Zelensky as Russian President Vladimir Putin
Reuters
"Everyone does make mistakes in talking sometimes, but because it does fit into this narrative of cognitive decline, everything's magnified."
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Highlighting the "biggest problem" for the President, host Tom Harwood claimed several senior Democrats are now suggesting that Biden should "do the patriotic thing" and step down.
Tom told Gift: "Senior Democrats, for example Tim Kaine, the former vice presidential nominee for the Democrats, was saying Joe Biden needs to do the patriotic thing, although of course not explaining what the patriotic thing is.
"There are lots of people who are choosing very delicate forms of words, almost hedging their bets, which is clearly deeply destabilising."
Gift agreed, responding: "First it was the Democrats talking, rumours and speculation about asking Biden to step down.
Dr Thomas Gift said it is the 'worst of all worlds' for the Democrats
GB News
"Now we're seeing some rank, and file lawmakers on Capitol Hill saying more explicitly that they think that Biden should pass the torch. And I think the last place that we could end is senior leadership."
Reacting to Nancy Pelosi's stance on Biden's health, and her comments on the President having a "decision to make", Gift claimed that she thinks "it's time for Joe to go".
He explained: "She keeps saying Biden needs to make a decision, and that's what other Democrats are saying.
"But he has made a decision, it's just not the decision that she likes. So I think she's holding out hope that Biden changes his tune."