President Joe Biden introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as ‘President Putin’ in a brutal gaffe at the NATO summit with his political future hanging by a thread.
The ailing 81-year-old facing mounting calls to drop out of the presidential race said: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin.’
The embarrassing flub in front of world leaders sparked gasps and those in the room had to shout the correct name.
‘No, we’re going to beat Putin,’ Biden said, and blamed the blunder on being ‘so focused’ on defeating the Russian tyrant who invaded Ukraine two-and-a-half years ago.
One of his worst gaffes yet came in front of global allies and shortly before his pivotal ‘big boy’ press conference that could be the final nail in the coffin for his hopes of remaining as the Democratic candidate.
The latest bungled comments will add fuel to the fire for critics who say he isn’t capable of being in office for another four years, yet alone winning in November.
It also came as a sitting Democrat indicated that he should resign from office in a stunning statement.
Biden had announced a new $225 million aid package for Ukraine, including a Patriot missile system to bolster its air defenses against the Russian airstrikes when he made his gaffe.
Behind the scenes at NATO summit, world leaders have been concerned about Biden’s cognitive decline.
One senior diplomat reportedly said that politicians from around the globe fear he could fall and are ‘worried if he knows which direction he is going’.
House Speaker Mike Johnson also said that NATO leaders have privately told him they are ‘deeply concerned’ about the president’s physical and mental health.
The latest gaffe from Biden could not have come at a worse time as the White House desperately tries to prove he is fit to serve.
‘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,’ Biden said.
He turned away from the podium and then heard the shouts from those calling ‘Zelensky’ at him.
‘President Putin? We’re gonna beat President Putin. President Zelensky! I’m so focused on beating Putin. We got to worry about it — anyway, Mr. President,’ he said.
‘I’m better,’ Zelensky said. ‘You are a helluva lot better,’ Biden replied as he desperately tried to recover.
Biden’s error dropped just before his first solo press conference in nine months and since his catastrophic debate performance against Donald Trump.
Nicknamed a ‘big boy’ press conference, the pressure is on the president to show he can handle an unscripted moment without a major error.
But the major gaffe does not bode well for the president who has not been able to quell the tide of criticism against him.
In the two weeks since the first president debate, Biden has not been able to reassure Democrats he is capable of defeating Donald Trump in November.
In fact, fears are growing he will take down Democratic candidates with him.
At the time of his massive hiccup with Zelensky, 15th House Democrats and one Democratic Senator had called on him to step aside.
There were also reports that members of Biden’s inner circle are also plotting ways to get him to drop out, fearing a devastating defeat to Trump in November.