U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at a press conference during NATO's 75th anniversary summit, in Washington, U.
S., July 11, 2024. Yves Herman | Reuters President Joe Biden on Thursday mistakenly referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as "Vice President Trump" in the opening question of his highly-anticipated solo press conference in Washington .
"Look, I wouldn't have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president [if] I think she's not qualified to be president," Biden said, confusing his second-in-command with his November election opponent, former President Donald Trump. The president misspoke and appeared to lose his train of thought several times as he fielded reporters' questions. In another blunder, Biden wrongly referred to his chief of staff as "my commander in chief" before catching his mistake.
Following his bungled debate performance against former President Donald Trump on June 27, Biden came into this press conference on a mission: Prove to the public that he can handle tough questions in an unscripted environment. Earlier Thursday evening, Biden added salt to his political wounds at a scripted NATO event honoring Ukraine where he accidentally introduced Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "President Putin." "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, before quickly correcting himself. Throughout Thursday's press conference, Biden deliver.
