President Biden mistakenly calls Ukrainian President 'President Putin', Kamala becomes 'Trump'

This morning, July 12 (11:07 p.m. US time), US President Joe Biden and leaders of the Ukraine Contact Group held a ceremony to announce the signing of support for Ukraine. After his opening remarks, President Biden deferred to the Ukrainian President but called Mr. Zelensky by the name of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

US President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders at a ceremony in Washington DC on July 11.

"I now turn the floor over to the president of Ukraine, a man of great courage and determination. Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin," President Biden said before a crowd of leaders, spectators and members of the press.

As he turned to leave, Mr. Biden seemed to realize his mistake, so he turned back and continued speaking: "President Putin. We will defeat President Putin. President Zelensky, I am very focused on defeating Mr. Putin. We have to worry about that. Mr. President."

President Zelensky immediately said, "I'm better," and was followed by Mr. Biden, "You're definitely better."

President Biden mistakenly called President Zelensky 'President Putin'

The misstep is expected to heighten concerns about President Biden's health, which have been swirling since his debate with his election rival, former President Donald Trump.

According to The Guardian , the clip of Mr. Biden's misspoken part was broadcast during prime time on many of the most watched news programs in the US such as ABC, CBS and NBC.

The incident occurred on the final day of the NATO summit in Washington DC, about an hour before Mr Biden was due to give a highly anticipated press conference that is seen as a turning point in the leader's re-election bid.

In a solo press conference later, Mr. Biden continued to misspoke when referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump.” Specifically, when asked by a reporter if he was concerned about Vice President Harris’s ability to defeat Mr. Trump if she were the Democratic Party’s number one candidate, Mr. Biden said he “would not have chosen Vice President Trump to be vice president if I did not think she was unqualified to be president.”

Responding to CNN later about her confidence in US President Joe Biden's leadership role, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that Mr. Biden is doing a great job.

President Biden shakes hands with President Zelensky at the ceremony

French President Emmanuel Macron defended his US counterpart, saying it was just a slip of the tongue and that it had happened to him before.

Asked about the incident, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed that the NATO summit had made breakthroughs that were welcomed by President Zelensky and had put NATO on a stronger footing.

Asked if the US president could serve another four years, Mr Starmer mentioned that he had gone through a series of meetings with President Biden over the past two days with good results. "He led through it all, spoke at every session, brought everyone together and we got a good result. I think he should be given credit for that."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tong-thong-biden-goi-nham-tong-thong-ukraine-la-tong-thong-putin-lap-tuc-sua-sai-185240712063148664.htm