Biden Mistakenly Says He's 'First Black Woman To Serve' As Vice President
By Jason Hall
July 5, 2024
President Joe Biden described himself as “first black woman to serve with a black president” in his latest public gaffe amid speculation of his campaign future, the New York Post reports.
Biden, 81, made the mistake while appearing on a local Black-owned Philadelphia radio station on Independence Day following his disastrous first presidential debate performance and appeared to mixup his two terms served as former President Barack Obama's vice president with current Vice President Kamala Harris.
“By the way, I’m proud to be, as I said, the first vice president, first black woman, to serve with a black president,” Biden said.
The interview took place amid reports of uncertainty regarding the president's re-election campaign as a top campaign official reportedly told at least one megadonor that Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 election is "only a matter of time" privately according to TMZ, as well as multiple Democratic officials publicly calling for him to drop out. The official reportedly said that focus has shifted from singular support of the president's re-election to "Democrats have to retain The White House" following Biden's disastrous performance in the first presidential debate against former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.
Biden, the oldest president in history, appeared opposite Trump, on the debate stage for the first time since the 2020 election and did little to quell concerns about his vigor and energy. The president appeared to struggle with his voice, clearing his throat and coughing multiple times, and was often seen open-mouthed and staring when Trump spoke, occasionally struggling to finish sentences.
Biden's performance reportedly led to "panic" among Democrats, according to longtime Democratic operative and CNN senior political commentator David Axelrod.
“He seemed a little disoriented. He did get stronger as the debate went on. But by that time, I think the panic had set in,” Axelrod said, adding that "there are going to be discussions about whether he should continue.”