Moment Biden’s team reacts to president calling Kamala Harris ‘Vice President Trump’
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A recent video captured the reaction of members of Joe Biden's cabinet to his latest mistake during a crucial press conference on Thursday evening.
In a highly anticipated briefing where he aimed to dispel doubts about his ability to lead, the 81-year-old president made a blunder by calling his deputy Kamala Harris "Vice President Trump" by mistake.
"Listen, I wouldn't have chosen Vice President Trump to be my running mate if I didn't think she had the qualifications to be president," Biden stated confidently, without making any corrections.
Biden's Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan were seated in the audience during the impressive moment, and their reactions were captured by the C-SPAN cameras.
The leaders looked disappointed and upset by the mistake, trying not to show their emotions too much. They closed their eyes, looking down in quiet sadness.
In the video, Sullivan is shown putting his hand to his mouth, touching his lips nervously, with a look of shock and sadness on his face.
The video of that particular instant spread like wildfire across various social media platforms.
Biden scheduled a press conference during a Nato summit in Washington DC in an attempt to reassure Americans, Democrats, and the media that he is still the best candidate to challenge Donald Trump in the 2024 election, following criticism of his debate performance last month.
During the press conference, the president addressed 19 questions from 10 journalists, talking for nearly an hour. Unfortunately, his most recent mistake ended up overshadowing his attempts to clarify the facts.
It happened later in the day after another awkward incident when Biden mixed up Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with Russian President Vladimir Putin, mistakenly calling him "President Putin".
At that moment, Biden immediately realized his mistake and went back to the stage to make a correction: "President Putin? He meant to say President Zelensky. I am really focused on defeating Putin."
Zelensky casually dismissed the issue with a witty remark, stating simply: "I'm doing well."
"You've improved a great deal," Biden said.
During the important press conference, Biden, who often coughed and struggled to answer questions clearly, faced many inquiries about his competence while discussing intricate American foreign policy matters.
The president reaffirmed his intention to run in the 2024 election and remained hopeful about his prospects and future in politics. He highlighted his accomplishments in office and strengthened international relationships during the summit.
"I am the best person to defeat Trump because I have already beaten him once and I will beat him again," Biden asserted confidently.
"Where has Trump been?" he asked at one point. "Driving around in his golf cart, keeping track of his score before taking his shot?"
When questioned about whether he can promise Americans that he won't have any more "bad nights" like his regrettable debate performance, Biden responded by stating that there is "no sign" of his progress "slowing down."
"Am I accomplishing my tasks? Can you identify someone who has successfully passed more significant legislation in three and a half years?" he asked.
Last week I managed to generate employment for 2,000 people. If my pace drops and I struggle to complete the work, it may be a clear signal that I am not cut out for it. However, at this moment, there are no signs pointing in that direction. None at all.