At a press conference marking the end of the NATO summit Thursday, Biden introduced visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin” before immediately correcting himself.
And several hours later, during a 59-minute solo news conference seen as pivotal for his reelection bid, Biden transposed Vice President Harris’s name and that of Trump without catching his error.
The gaffes and the circumstances surrounding them — including Biden’s disastrous June 27 debate and doubts about his stamina and skills — overshadowed a summit that made several major strides in bolstering Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
The alliance issued a joint communique laying out new military and financial support for Ukraine, and a commitment that Kyiv is on an “irreversible” path to NATO membership.
But Biden’s latest stumbles — coming amid broader questions about his candidacy — are garnering significant attention as he fends off calls from Democrats to step aside as the party’s nominee in November.
Democrats have expressed concerns that Biden lacks the mental sharpness and stamina to vigorously campaign against Trump and make a successful case to the American public.
Biden still has his supporters, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who on Thursday warned against underestimating the American president, describing him as a “very focused” leader.
Scholz also said he had not seen any moments from Biden in the past week that indicate he is not up for another four years in office.
And Sir Keir Starmer, the new British prime minister, told the BBC that Biden was on “really good form” after the two leaders met at the summit.
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
