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VLADIMIR Putin’s Russia has taken a dig at bumbling Joe Biden after he made his biggest political gaffe yet at this year’s Nato summit.
Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman called Joe Biden “a pro-Russian candidate” being “controlled by the Kremlin” in a bid to mock the ageing US president.
US President Joe Biden introduced President Volodymyr Zelensky as ‘Putin’
AFP
Getty
Biden quickly corrected himself as he welcomed the Ukrainian leader to speak
GettyMaking his first major speech since the disastrous US presidential debate, Biden, 81, mistakenly introduced Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin”.
Addressing the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, he said: “Now I want to hand over to the President of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination. Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin.”
Biden quickly corrected himself as he greeted Zelensky – the man who has tried to stop Putin from decimating his country for over two years – onto the stage.
“Going to beat President Putin, President Zelensky. I am so focused on beating Putin,” Biden went on to say.
The offensive mix-up quickly elicited gasps from around the room, filled with leaders and press from across the globe.
Speaking at a separate press conference later in the evening, Biden then confused his Vice President Kamala Harris with his political foe Donald Trump.
Asked what concerns he has about his second-in-command’s ability to beat former President Trump if she was running in his place, he gave a baffling response.
He said confusingly: “Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be Vice President… do I think she’s not qualified to be President…so let’s start there.”
Kremlin said the two major slip-ups – seen to be Biden’s biggest political gaffes to date – had been widely noticed by the entire world.
A clip of the disastrous incident was featured on top news channels in Russia, where state TV presenters and show hosts have long portrayed Biden as a senile old man who risks stumbling into World War Three.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “We noticed that the whole world paid attention to what happened.”
Olga Skabeyeva, a pro-Kremlin TV commentator, posted a clip of Biden’s speech and said: “The show from Joe goes on.”
Another Russian TV called Biden’s slip of tongue an “Oscar-worthy performance.”
Moskovsky Komsomolets, a major Russian daily, write in their article: “What’s more dangerous, a monkey with a grenade or a shaking hand on the nuclear button?”
However, the Kremlin also said it took note of the disrespectful comments made about Putin, whom Biden referred to as “a murderous madman”.
Spokesperson Peskov said: “This is unacceptable to us, and we don’t think it in any way makes an American head of state look good.”
Biden's recent gaffes
PRESIDENT Joe Biden's gaffes have increased at an alarming rate over the past few years.
He made a disastrous performance during the recent presidential debate against Donald Trump.
The commander-in-chief struggled to complete his sentences and seemed to lose his train of thought during his arguments in the first presidential debate of 2024.
Biden alarmingly described himself as a “Black woman” during a radio interview with Philadelphia station WURD on Thursday.
“I’m proud to be, as I said, the first vice president, first black woman… to serve with a black president,” Biden said, appearing to confuse himself with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden previously served as VP to President Barack Obama, the US’ first black president, which is likely the source of his confusion.
The president also attempted to go off-script and insult rival Donald Trump, while addressing military families during the White House’s Fourth of July barbecue.
While Biden came in strong, he fumbled his word and came crashing down.
“By the way, you know I was at that World War I cemetery in France and a – the one that one of our colleagues, a former president, didn’t want to go and be up there,” Biden said in an apparent dig at former president Donald Trump.
“I probably shouldn’t even say that. Anyway,” he continued as his voice dimmed.
After shocking the audience, he quickly went back on script and tried to get the energy back up.
Biden even admitted that he needs to limit his work hours and get more sleep – even if means missing important events.
Biden bizarrely admitted that he almost fell asleep during the bumbling screening – which saw members of his own party call for him to quit.
In the footage shared on Trump’s own Truth Social network, he claimed Kamala would be taking over from Biden despite repeated comments from his camp which insist he won’t quit.
Biden’s latest set of toe-curling gaffes came just hours apart as he hosts the Nato summit amid growing calls for him to stand down from the re-election campaign.
It marked the latest in a string of blunders Biden, 81, has been ridiculed for as even his most senior Democratic colleagues call for him to quit.
Now even former President Barack Obama is thought to be manoeuvring behind the scenes to get him out of the race.
After eight years of working together as President and second-in-command, Obama has privately expressed concerns about Biden’s chances in the 2024 election, CNN reports.
Meanwhile, members of the party are reportedly lobbying Obama and senior Democrat Nancy Pelosi to speak up and tell Biden he needs to drop out.
Reports surfaced last week of an anonymous document titled “Unburdened by What Has Been: The Case for Kamala”.
Just two days ago, lifelong Democrat George Clooney called on friend Biden to quit the 2024 US Presidential election race.
The Hollywood star, who has hosted several fundraisers for Biden, said the 81-year-old can’t win the “battle against time”.
Clooney has been a long-time friend and crucial supporter of Biden who has endorsed him as well as the Democratic party on many occasions.
His de-endorsement was seen as a massive blow to the president’s political career.
Democrats who have called for Biden's resignation
SINCE Biden's disastrous debate with Trump in June, 17 Democrats have called for him to resign. Below are their comments.
Rep. Eric Sorensen
“I am hopeful President Biden will step aside in his campaign for President.”
Rep. Scott Peters
“Today I ask President Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign. The stakes are high, and we are on a losing course.”
Rep. Jim Himes
“The 2024 election will define the future of American democracy, and we must put forth the strongest candidate possible to confront the threat posed by Trump’s MAGA authoritarianism.
“I no longer believe that is Joe Biden.”
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
“I doubt the President’s judgement about his health, his fitness to do the job, and whether he is the one making important decisions about our country, rather than unelected advisors.
“Americans deserve to feel their president is fit enough to do the job.”
Rep. Greg Stanton
“The Democratic Party must have a nominee who can effectively make the case against Trump, and have the confidence of the American people to handle the rigours of the hardest job on the planet for the next four years.”
Rep. Ed Case
“Difficult times and realities require difficult decisions. This has nothing to do with his character and record. If it did, there would be no decision to make.
“This is solely about the future, about the President’s ability to continue in the most difficult job in the world for another four-year term.”
Rep. Brad Schneider
“We are faced with a stark choice: be resigned to slog through this election praying we can successfully defend our democracy, or enthusiastically embrace a vibrant vision for our future, building on the extraordinary foundation President Biden has created for our nation over the past four years.
“I choose the latter.”
Rep. Hillary Scholten
“President Biden has served his country well, but for the sake of our democracy, he must pass the torch to a new candidate for the 2024 election.”
Sen. Peter Welch
“Regular Vermonters are worried that he can’t win this time, and they’re terrified of another Trump presidency.”
Rep. Earl Blumenauer
“We will all be better served if the president steps aside as the Democratic nominee and manages a transition under his terms.”
Rep. Pat Ryan
“I’d be doing a grave disservice to the hundreds of thousands of people I have the honor to represent if I said Biden was the best candidate to face Trump this fall.”
Rep. Mikie Sherrill
Sherrill told ABC she feels the need to “advocate as strongly as possible for new leadership so we could really prosecute the case against Donald Trump.”
Rep. Adam Smith
“He is not yet the nominee. So I think we have a chance to pick a better candidate who can effectively deliver the message, get off of all of these distractions, focus on the Democratic message and on the dangers of Donald Trump.”
Rep. Angie Craig
“This is not a decision I’ve come to lightly, but there is simply too much at stake to risk a second Donald Trump presidency.”
Rep. Mike Quigley
“Mr. President, your legacy is set.
“We owe you the greatest debt of gratitude. The only thing that you can do now to cement that for all time and prevent utter catastrophe is to step down and let someone else do this.”
Rep. Seth Moulton
“President Biden has done enormous service to our country, but now is the time for him to follow in one of our founding fathers, George Washington’s footsteps and step aside to let new leaders rise up and run against Donald Trump.”
Rep. Raúl Grijalva
“If he’s the candidate, I’m going to support him, but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere.”
Rep. Lloyd Doggett
“I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw. President Biden should do the same.”
Biden even forgot the name of the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, last week
Former President Barack Obama – a long-time friend of Biden – reportedly feels he should pull out too
Lifelong Democrat George Clooney called on friend Biden to quit the 2024 US Presidential election race
English (US)