In a Thursday evening press conference, President Joe Biden defended his fitness for office amid questions about his age and calls for him to step aside. He stated, “I think I’m the most qualified person to run for president,” and expressed confidence in defeating Donald Trump again.
Early in the conference, Biden mispronounced Vice President Kamala Harris’s name, a moment quickly highlighted by Trump. Addressing health concerns, Biden mentioned undergoing three recent neurological exams, all indicating he is in good shape. He acknowledged that critics might never be satisfied with his medical information.
The press conference aimed to reassure the public and his party of his capabilities, following a challenging debate performance. Despite calls from some party members to exit the race, Biden insisted he isn’t going anywhere.
Biden attributed his debate mistakes to a hectic schedule, saying, “I’ve just got to pace myself a little bit more.” He criticised Trump, saying, “Where has Trump been? Riding around on his golf cart.” He also hinted at over-scheduling by his staff, saying, “I love my staff but they add things all the time,” but added, “I’m catching hell from my wife.”
Acknowledging the job’s demands, Biden stated, “If I slow down, I can’t get the job done. That’s a sign that I shouldn’t be doing it. But there’s no indication of that yet.” He emphasized his focus on completing his work, saying, “I’m not in this for my legacy. I’m in this to complete the job I started.”
Despite his efforts, Biden made two notable gaffes during the evening. He mistakenly referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump” and confused the leaders of Ukraine and Russia at a NATO summit, introducing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “President Putin.” He quickly corrected himself and Zelenskyy joked, “I’m better [than Putin],” as he shook Biden’s hand.
Biden has been a strong supporter of Ukraine during its conflict with Russia. However, this was not the first time Biden misspoke at a press event; in February, he mistakenly referred to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi as the “president of Mexico” while responding to a special counsel report that described him as “significantly limited.”
