Joe Biden gaffe crisis mounts after calling Kamala Harris 'TRUMP' just hours after introducing Zelensky as Putin
Questions about Joe Biden are set to intensify after the latest gaffe
REUTERS
Joe Biden made two major gaffes just hours apart at a Nato summit after mistakenly introducing Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky as Russian President Vladimir Putin and calling Vice President Kamala Harris his political rival Donald Trump.
Questions have rapidly been mounting over the ability of the US President, especially following his disastrous debate against Donald Trump a fortnight ago.
With serious questions over the Democrat's cognitive ability, close attention was set to be paid tonight to a solo press conference held by the 81-year-old - his first in several months.
However, at a joint conference with Zelensky ahead of the TV address, the US President made a slip-up that will have massively intensified questions about his ability to remain in the top job for another four years.
Questions about Joe Biden are set to intensify after the latest gaffe
REUTERS
"Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin," Biden said, referring to Zelensky before correcting himself.
"Going to beat President Putin, President Zelensky. I am so focused on beating Putin," Biden added upon realising his mistake.
Joking with Biden following the error, Zelensky said of the mix-up: "I'm better."
In his second mix-up of the night, Biden referred to his Vice President as his political opponent when asked by reporters if Kamala Harris had what it takes to be President.
"Look I wouldn't have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president if she was not qualified to be president. So start there," he said.
Unaware of his error the President continued his answer without correcting the statement.
The new gaffes risk being terminal for the future candidacy of Biden.
Joe Biden corrected himself after making the error
REUTERS
President Zelensky made light of the gaffe as he took to the podium
REUTERS
A growing number of Democrats fear the president no longer has the ability to beat Republican Donald Trump in the November election or to carry on in the high-pressure job for another four-year term.
So far, 13 of the 213 Democrats in the House and one of the Senate's 51 Democrats have appealed publicly to the President to withdraw from the race.
The latest incident comes just hours after Biden held a bilateral meeting with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Speaking to GB News afterwards, the Labour leader brushed aside concerns about Biden's health.
“I was with him [Biden] on a bilateral for what was going to be 45 minutes, it ended up being the best part of an hour”, he said.
“We went through a number of issues at pace, strategic issues that we were keen to thrash out and talk through.
“He was on very good form and I was very pleased to talk through those issues with him.”