Biden officials struggle to hide their discomfort as prez calls Kamala ‘Vice President Trump’ at ‘big boy’ press conference
Senior Biden officials were seen awkwardly trying to remain expressionless when the gaffe-prone commander-in-chief referred to Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump” during Thursday’s “big boy” press conference at the NATO summit.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and national security adviser Jake Sullivan were seated in the front row for President Biden’s error-laden debacle at the Washington Convention Center.
“Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president if I think she’s not qualified to be president,” the 81-year-old told reporters.
Blinken — who praised his boss for restoring global confidence in the US days after his disastrous debate against former President Donald Trump — closed his eyes and dropped his head slightly when the president made the major mix-up on the world stage.
Sullivan appeared to be trying his best to contain his emotions, putting his hand up to his mouth before balling it into a fist and resting it on his chin in what could be perceived as disbelief over the statement.
Austin was the only Biden official who did not appear to be in any discomfort over the president’s remarks, sitting stony-faced during Biden’s mishap — evening nodding slightly at one point.
The call for Biden not to seek re-election has accelerated among congressional Democrats, who believe that running with the 81-year-old president will only secure a victory for Trump, who is expected to be the Republican nominee.
Following the humiliating inaccuracy, Reps. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Eric Sorensen of Illinois and Scott Peters of California became the latest Democrats to publicly plead for Biden to retire after his term ends.
Before Biden’s press conference, 14 House Democrats had urged Biden to drop out of the presidential race.
Trump quickly ridiculed his potential opponent over the mistake in a statement on social media.
“Crooked Joe begins his ‘Big Boy’ Press Conference with, ‘I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president, though I think she was not qualified to be president.’ Great job, Joe!” the 78-year-old ex-president wrote.
What to know about the calls for President Biden to drop out of the 2024 race:
- President Biden’s poor performance in the first 2024 presidential debate left some Democrats unsure of his fitness for office and future as the party’s candidate.
- More than a dozen congressional Democrats have joined in calling for Biden’s exit from the race. Former Biden supporter George Clooney echoed these calls in an op-ed published in the New York Times just weeks after he helped lead a record-breaking fundraiser for the Democrat.
- Democratic voters have continued to raise concerns about Biden’s nomination since the debate, with speculations and suggestions for replacement nominees running rampant.
- Biden’s former running mate Barack Obama has reportedly been trying to pressure him to drop out, and had prior knowledge of Clooney’s op-ed. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi allegedly told Biden he could not beat former President Donald Trump this time around.
- As the Democratic National Convention approaches, California delegates for the Democratic Party are reportedly in disarray as debate over the president’s chances of re-election threatens to tear the party apart.
- However, the Biden campaign has denied any plans for Biden to bow out and for Kamala Harris to step in as the Democratic nominee. Sources close to the president believe he might not be willing to drop out, while other sources claim he is “receptive” to giving up on a second term.
Trump is ahead of Biden by 4 points, and less than a quarter of Americans believe the incumbent is “mentally sharp,” according to a poll released by the Pew Research Center on Thursday.
It wasn’t Biden’s only presidential mix-up during what press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeatedly referred to as his “big boy” press conference.
Biden mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as his enemy, Russian President Vladimir Putin, on stage Thursday evening, causing some in the crowd to gasp in disbelief.
“And now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination,” a fragile-looking Biden announced. “Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin.”
World leaders onstage appeared unsure whether to clap to welcome Zelensky or wait for Biden to correct himself.
One audience member shouted “Zelensky!” to correct the aging president.
Zelensky shrugged off the flub as he took the podium to praise NATO.
Biden quickly apologized for the embarrassing gaffe, saying it happened because he was “so focused on beating” the Kremlin strongman.
Biden’s evening of simple slipups comes as leaders of 19 other nations gathered to announce the signing of the Ukraine Compact, a new security agreement between Kyiv and US and allies including Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
The president also had trouble pronouncing the word “neurologist” while claiming he wouldn’t seek another cognitive exam unless doctors asked for one — as speculation has arisen that the 81-year-old may have Parkinson’s disease or a related condition.
Biden claimed he last saw neurologist Dr. Kevin Cannard in February, despite Jean-Pierre saying the visit was in January.
