US President Joe Biden delivered an impassioned defense of his foreign policy record at a crucial NATO news conference that could shape the trajectory of his presidential campaign. The 81-year-old faced a barrage of questions on complex international issues and his mental health after a series of gaffes, including mistakenly referring to Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump” and introducing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as “President Vladimir Putin.”
At the press conference, Biden touched on several pressing foreign policy issues, such as competition with China and the conflict between Israel and Hamas. He emphasized his direct communication with Chinese President Xi Jinping, warning him against Russia’s support for the war in Ukraine, but he confirmed that he currently has no reason to speak with Putin. “I have no reason to speak to him right now,” Biden said firmly.
The event, meant to showcase Biden’s leadership abilities, quickly turned into a defense of his mental acuity, a recurring theme since his debate performance against Donald Trump, which he called “that stupid mistake.” Despite the challenges, Biden remained determined, vowing to continue his reelection campaign.
“None of my European allies have said to me, ‘Joe, don’t run.’ What I’ve heard them say is, ‘You have to win,’” Biden said, addressing concerns about his ability to serve another term. “If I slow down and I can’t get the job done, that’s a sign that I shouldn’t be doing this. But there’s no indication that that’s the case. Nothing.”
Biden’s statements, however, have not been enough to quell the growing divisions within his party. Congressman Jim Himes of Connecticut and the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee has openly called for Biden to resign. “We need to put forward the strongest possible candidate to confront the threat posed by the MAGA authoritarianism Trump promised. I no longer believe that is Joe Biden,” Himes wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Two other congressional Democrats, Rep. Scott Peters of California and Rep. Eric Sorensen of Illinois, also urged Biden to drop out of the race. Peters said, “The stakes are high and we are on a losing path,” while Sorensen urged Biden to “put country before party.”
During his 58-minute speech, which included a lengthy 50-minute impromptu question-and-answer session, Biden demonstrated his foreign policy expertise but occasionally made missteps. On the subject of Israel and Hamas, he offered his advice to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Don’t make the same mistake America made after the war.” [Osama] Bin Laden. There is no reason to occupy anything. Let’s go after those who did the work.
Addressing the European response to China’s potential support for Russia, Biden signaled a unified position: “European countries are prepared to reduce their investments in China if Xi continues to [supply] “Russia has information and capabilities, and is working with North Korea and other countries, to help it in its weapons field.”
Despite these targeted responses, Biden’s gaffes have overshadowed his policy discussions. His error involving Zelenskiy and Putin occurred during a highly publicized signing ceremony, where he mistakenly introduced Zelenskiy as “President Putin” before quickly correcting himself.
The incident sparked widespread reactions from European leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who expressed surprise at the blunder. French President Emmanuel Macron downplayed the error, saying: “Lapsus happen, it’s happened to me before.”
British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer defended Biden’s overall performance at the summit, highlighting the positive results achieved. “Look, I was with him last night. We spent the better part of an hour together. We covered a lot of ground. He led the whole process, spoke at every session, brought people together, and we got a good result and I think he should be congratulated for that.”
Concluding his press conference, Biden maintained his defiant stance, saying he would not leave the race unless it was clear he had no chance of winning against Trump. Despite the mounting pressure within his party, Joe Biden stressed his confidence in his ability to lead: “I would not have chosen Vice President Trump to be vice president, if she is not qualified to be president,” he mistakenly said, intending to endorse Harris’ qualifications.
Mimi Mefo Info
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