Biden mistakenly calls Zelenskyy ‘Putin’ at NATO summit.
In a recent embarrassing gaffe, President Biden mistakenly introduced Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “President Putin” during the NATO conference in Washington, D.C. Biden, addressing the crowd, said, “And now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination. Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin.” Upon realizing his mistake, Biden quickly corrected himself, saying, “He’s going to beat President Putin. President Zelenskyy. I’m so focused on beating Putin. We got to worry about it. Anyway, Mr. President.”
Zelenskyy then appeared on stage, shook Biden’s hand, and humorously stated, “I’m better.” To which Biden responded, “You are a hell of a lot better.” The light-hearted exchange followed Biden’s slip of the tongue, introducing Zelenskyy as the Russian leader, Putin.
This awkward moment occurred amidst ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict has resulted in significant military and civilian casualties, drawing international attention and concern.
The Biden administration has been supportive of Ukraine, providing billions in aid to the country since the outbreak of the war. Despite criticisms and calls to drop out of the presidential race, Biden remains determined to stay in the running, increasing his public appearances as the election nears.
Following the introduction mishap, Biden was set to hold a solo news conference without the aid of teleprompters, seen as a crucial test of his communication skills and readiness for the upcoming election. The conference was eagerly anticipated by lawmakers and the public, following Biden’s lackluster performance in a previous debate.
With the presidential election looming, Biden’s verbal slip-ups and public appearances take on added significance as the Democratic Party seeks to solidify its position and rally behind its candidate for the Oval Office.
