Joe Biden, who now risks his political survival at every public appearance, made a monumental blunder on Thursday, even before the start of a press conference considered crucial to his presidential candidacy. Under pressure to withdraw his candidacy for the White House, Joe Biden announced “President Putin” on Thursday as he welcomed Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelensky on stage at the NATO summit in Washington.
“I’m so focused on beating Putin”
“And now I want to turn it over to the president of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination. Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” said the 81-year-old Democrat, who stepped away from the microphone before realizing his mistake and returning to say, “He’s going to beat President Putin. President Zelensky. I’m so focused on beating Putin.”
His Republican opponents immediately set about circulating the video on social media. The mistake bodes ill for a press conference he is scheduled to give at 6:30 p.m. local time (2:30 a.m. French time).
The challenge for the American president will be to have repartee, to express himself clearly, in a confident voice, without notes and without a teleprompter. He was unable to do so on June 27 during a debate against his Republican predecessor Donald Trump, whom he remains determined to confront in the November election.
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