Murmurs in the hall

Biden mistakenly introduces Zelensky as Putin

(Bild: AFP/Brendan Smialowski)

At a press conference at the NATO summit in Washington on Thursday, US President Joe Biden mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as "President Putin" (see video above). But it was (once again) not his only gaffe ...

"I now hand over to the President of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination. Ladies and gentlemen: President Putin," Biden said before walking away from the lectern.

Mistake quickly noticed
A murmur went through the hall after Biden's faux pas. The 81-year-old quickly realized his mistake, returned and said: "He will beat President Putin. President Selenskyj. I'm so focused on beating President Putin."

(Bild: AFP/Brendan Smialowski)

(Bild: AFP)

(Bild: APA Pool/APA/Getty Images via AFP/GETTY IMAGES/Kevin Dietsch)

"I am better"
Ukraine President Selenskyj, who had stepped up to the lectern next to Biden, also tried to make light of the situation, jokingly countering with the words: "I'm better."

Vice president mistaken for Trump
As if that wasn't embarrassing enough, Biden also confused his Vice President Kamala Harris with his Republican rival for the presidency, Donald Trump.

Video of Biden's second gaffe:

"What's your take on Kamala Harris as a presidential candidate?" a journalist asked the president. Biden's answer: "I wouldn't have picked Vice President Trump as vice president if I didn't think she had what it takes to be president." Silence in the audience, no questions from the journalist.

Trump smugly: "Great job, Joe"
Trump's response was not long in coming: The 78-year-old posted a video clip of Biden's gaffe while the US president was still at his press conference. Trump added sarcastically at the end: "Great job, Joe!"

In the press conference, Biden also defended his candidacy in the presidential election. He was "the most qualified person" to beat Trump.

Doubts about mental fitness
Biden is under constant scrutiny at the NATO meeting after doubts were raised about his mental and physical fitness during a TV duel against Trump at the end of June. 

"I'm not there for my legacy. I'm in it to finish the job," Biden told journalists who asked him about his candidacy.

(Bild: AFP)

Advisers have doubts about Biden's victory
In recent days, Biden's advisers have been trying to find ways to convince Biden to withdraw from the race, the New York Times reported, citing unnamed sources. Biden is still firmly convinced that he wants to stay in the race. His closest circle of advisers, which includes his family, would also speak out in favor of this, according to the newspaper.

"This is clearly not true"
The White House denied that Biden's team was not united behind the Democrat. "That is clearly not true," the newspaper quoted Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman, as saying. "President Biden's team is fully behind him."

But the US broadcaster NBC also reported that several of Biden's allies saw his chances of winning the election in November as zero. "He has to drop out," the broadcaster quoted an unnamed representative from Biden's campaign team. "He'll never recover from this."