If Joe Biden had set out to create the most damaging gaffes possible for his presidency, it would be hard to top his performance on Thursday night.
This NATO summit in Washington has already been mired by questions about the US president’s age and mental fitness, with every world leader fielding inquiries on the topic. Meanwhile, two miles away on Capitol Hill, Democrats have been in intense discussions all week about what to do regarding Biden’s health.
All eyes were on this evening’s events to see if he could close the summit without incident. Unfortunately, he could not.
In the media center, where hundreds of journalists were gathered to watch the press conference, a collective gasp filled the room. On screens, Biden turned to his left, preparing to hand over the stage to President Zelensky of Ukraine.
“And now I want to hand it over to the President of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination,” Biden said, pausing for effect. Then he concluded, “Ladies and gentlemen – President Putin.”
The room’s atmosphere shifted instantly from interest to horror. The reaction mirrored the one from the presidential debate on June 27, when Biden froze on stage. Journalists exchanged looks of disbelief, wondering, “Can this really be happening?”
Minutes later, Sir Keir Starmer, Olaf Scholz, and Emmanuel Macron were all asked about the gaffe in their own press conferences, dismissing Biden’s mistake as a harmless slip of the tongue. However, the timing of this incident was undeniably unfortunate.
Just an hour and a half later, Biden made another blunder. During his own press conference, he was asked about Kamala Harris’s suitability to be president, a clear nod to the possibility of her replacing him on the Democratic ticket.
“I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president if she’s not qualified to be president,” he said. More gasps ensued as it became clear he had mistaken his closest ally for his greatest foe.
Biden struggled to recover, insisting the NATO press conference was the most successful in a long time and claiming that other world leaders credited him with bringing them together. His speech was atypical for a world summit, focusing on the differences between his foreign and domestic policies and those of Trump. At one point, he veered into discussing US inflation figures, attempting to shift into campaign mode and counteract his mistake by portraying Trump as a threat to the NATO alliance.
Yet, these efforts seemed insufficient. With mounting pressure from fellow Democrats, Biden’s team had hoped this week’s summit would showcase his leadership and strength on the world stage. Instead, he ended up looking like an international embarrassment, leaving Western leaders scrambling to defend him.
Biden’s intention was to step up and play his favorite role: the man saving the world from Russia and preventing a second term of Donald Trump’s “unhinged” agenda. However, his performance only served to undermine his credibility and rally more Democrats to reconsider their support for his campaign.
If Biden appeared shaky at the start of the week, he now looks even more vulnerable. His latest blunders have provided fresh ammunition for critics and cast further doubt on his capability to lead.
The backlash is likely to escalate, with more Democrats potentially stepping forward to express their lack of confidence in his campaign. Biden’s detractors within the party, already concerned about his age and mental acuity, might now find their voices amplified by the very incidents that were supposed to demonstrate his competency.
In the aftermath of these gaffes, Biden’s team faces the daunting task of damage control. They must reassure both the public and party members of his fitness for office while countering the narrative of a president in decline. The coming days will be critical as Biden attempts to navigate the fallout and restore confidence in his leadership.
As the pressure mounts, the question remains: Can Biden recover from these missteps, or are we witnessing the beginning of the end for his presidency? The answer will significantly impact not just his future, but also the Democratic Party’s prospects in the upcoming elections.
