Biden quickly corrected his mistake and Zelensky responded with humor, stating: “I am better (than Putin).”
President Joe Biden made a gaffe during a NATO event on Thursday when he mistakenly called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “President Putin.”
The incident is part of a series of gaffes by the president that have sparked concerns about his mental acuity and calls for him to drop out of the presidential race.
Biden mistakenly referred to Zelensky as “President Putin,” confusing him with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who initiated the conflict with Ukraine in 2022.
Biden quickly corrected his mistake and Zelensky responded with humor, stating: “I am better (than Putin).”
After correcting himself, Biden praised Zelensky, saying, “You’re much better,” attributing his slip to being too focused on countering Putin.
The timing of Biden’s verbal gaffe poses significant challenges for the president as a growing number of Democrats urge him to reconsider his reelection bid amid mounting concerns about his mental acuity and ability to defeat former President Donald Trump.
