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President Joe Biden accidentally referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump” while answering his first question at a closely watched, high-stakes press conference under pressure from Democratic officials to end his re-election campaign against his Republican rival.
All eyes are on his fist solo public-facing appearance in Washington on Thursday after the 81-year-old president appeared to unravel during a presidential debate with Donald Trump two weeks ago.
Biden arrived on stage facing a mandate from Democratic officials and voters to prove he is up to the task of campaigning against Trump for the next four months, let alone serve another demanding four-year term in the White House.
Following brief prepared remarks, Biden was asked about the viability of his political future, and whether his vice president can defeat Trump if Biden does leave the race.
“Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump, to be vice president, if she’s not qualified to be president.” he said before correcting himself.
Biden faced several urgent questions from reporters about his viability, yet Biden insisted he is staying in the race and remained optimistic about his chances and his political future, pointing to his record in office and renewed global alliances during this week’s NATO summit.
“The fact is,” Biden said, “I’m most qualified person to beat Trump. I beat him once, I’ll beat him again.”
Asked whether he can reassure Americans that he won’t have “more bad nights” like his admittedly “stupid mistake” of a performance against Trump at their first 2024 debate, Biden said there is “no indication” that his work is “slowing down.”
“Am I getting the job done? Can you name me somebody who has gotten more major pieces of legislation passed in three and a half years?” he said.
“I created 2,000 jobs just last week,” he added. “If I slow down and can’t get the job done, that’s a sign that I shouldn’t be doing it. But there’s no indication of that yet. None.”
His mistake came just hours after he accidentally called Ukraine President Volodymr Zelensky “President Putin.” He quickly caught his error, turning back to a lectern to say “we’re going to beat President Putin.”
“I’m so focused on beating Putin,” he said.
Zelensky appeared to shrug off the slip, joking “I’m better.”
“You’re a hell of a lot better,” Biden told him.
This is a developing story
Source: independent.co.uk
