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Joe Biden referred to his running mate Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump” during the first question from reporters at his high-stakes press conference after the Nato Summit in Washington.
The president made it through the first, scripted portion of his address on Thursday relatively smoothly, though slipped up after he was asked about Harris’ ability to rule should she take over the top of the ticket in his stead.
“I wouldn’t have picked vice president Trump…” he said, before quickly correcting himself.
The address is being seen by some as a make-or-break moment for Biden, and comes as the president attempts to play down concerns about his age and capabilities following his disastrous presidential debate against Donald Trump last month.
So far 14 members of Congress have publicly called for him to step aside in favor of a younger candidate for the 2024 election.
Politico reports that another half-a-dozen lawmakers could go public if Biden underperforms this evening, while Axios says he could face a “deluge” of calls urging him to drop out regardless of his performance. Many Americans appear to agree.
Shortly before the press conference, Biden made another serious gaffe, introducing Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky onstage at the Nato Summit as “president Putin”.
In pictures: Biden’s press conference at Nato Summit
Biden laughs at several questions from reporters
Joe Biden laughed at several questions from reporters that concerned his mental capacity.
The first question concerned a gaffe made shortly before the high stakes press conference on Thursday evening, where he introduced Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky onstage at the Nato Summit as “president Putin”.
Biden chuckled before responding.
Later, he laughed again in response to a question over reports he wanted to finish his working day earlier and be in bed by 8pm.
“That’s not true,” he said.
Watch the Harris/ Trump mix up
Biden confuses Kamala Harris… for Trump
Facing his first question from reporters, Biden appeared to confuse vice president Kamala Harris, with his political rival Donald Trump.
Asked if he had any concerns about Harris’ ability to rule should she take over the race in his stead, he replied: “I wouldn’t have picked vice president Trump…” before quickly correcting himself.
He continued: “The fact it is I think I am the right person to run for president. I beat [Trump] once and I’ll beat him again.”
Biden makes it through scripted remarks with few stumbles
Joe Biden made it through the first portion of his Nato Summit address relatively smoothly, despite high levels of scrutiny.
The president coughed several times, but was coherent with his words as he spoke of the US committment to Ukraine and its ongoing battle with Russia.
He will now face questions from reporters.
Biden begins high-stakes press conference at Nato summit
Joe Biden is speaking in his first press conference in eight months, in a high-stakes appearance at the Nato Summit in Washington as he attempts to claw back support from skeptical members of the Democratic party.
The address is being seen by some as make-or-break, and comes as the president continues to attempt to play down concerns about his age and capability, following his disastrous presidential debate against Donald Trump last month.
Biden was scheduled to begin at 6.30pm eastern, but the president did not take to the stage until around an hour later.
Moments before the news conference, Biden made yet another serious gaffe, introducing Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky onstage at the Nato Summit as “president Putin”.
World waits for Biden. Trump posts about his shoes.
How to watch president Biden’s high stakes press conference
You can watch live coverage of Joe Biden’s high stakes press conference here:
Biden press conference delayed by over 30 minutes
President Joe Biden’s high stakes press conference has been delayed by over 30 minutes.
The address at the Nato Summit on Thursday evening was originally scheduled to start at 6.30pm eastern.
By 7.07pm the president had still not appeared. The reason for the delay was not immediately clear.
Watch: Biden mistakenly calls Zelensky ‘Putin’ while introducing him at NATO summit
Biden mistakenly calls Zelensky ‘Putin’ while introducing him at NATO summit
In a major slip on stage at the NATO summit in Washington, DC, President Joe Biden called Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky “President Putin” while introducing him. Biden quickly recognized his mistake, returning to the podium to correct himself, “President Putin? He’s going to beat President Putin. President Zelensky. I’m so focused on beating Putin.” After turning it over the the Ukrainian president, Zelensky said, “I’m better,” in response to the slip. “You’re a hell of a lot better,” said President Biden.
Source: independent.co.uk
