Just hours after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised President Joe Biden’s mental acuity, Biden faced a series of high-profile blunders at a crucial NATO press conference, raising fresh questions about his fitness for office. Here’s the full story.
Waiting With Bated Breath
As Prime Minister Keir Starmer landed in Washington for his first face-to-face meeting with American President Joe Biden and his first real test of statesmanship at the NATO conference, the world was waiting with bated breath, not to see how Starmer would perform but rather how Biden would.
Serious Questions Raised
Following a disastrous car crash debate against former President and convicted felon Donald Trump, serious questions are being asked about Biden’s health. Though his team tried to blame the debate performance on the President being sick, calls for him to step down and make way for someone better able to defeat Trump have started to mount.
Starmer Backs Biden
Starmer vouched for Biden’s mental acuity following their first bilateral meeting at the White House in a significant display of his support for the President. Starmer told reporters, “My own personal view is he was on good form. I was very keen obviously to discuss Ukraine, but there were many other issues that we got through.”
“Really Good Form”
He added, “He had a really good bilateral yesterday. We were billed for 45 minutes, we went on for the best part of an hour. We went through a huge number of issues at pace, he was actually on really good form.”
Strengthening UK-US Relations
This encounter was critical for Starmer, marking his first direct interaction with Biden and demonstrating the strength of UK-US relations. Despite the pressing questions about Biden’s health, Starmer focused on the productive nature of their dialogue, steering well clear of the media-fueled speculation about the President’s mental state.
Biden’s Press Conference Gaffes
However, just hours after Starmer’s endorsement, President Biden faced a challenging press conference during which he committed several notable gaffes. First, the President introduced President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as “President Putin” before quickly correcting himself. Despite the correction, the mistake raised gasps and faltering applause from the assembled crowd.
Zelenskyy’s Reaction
Luckily for Biden, President Zelenskyy did not take offence at the significant slip-up. He smiled as he assured Biden he was better than Putin, to which Biden agreed.
Another Mistake
Secondly, in a smaller but no less glaring slip-up, Biden mistakenly referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice-President Trump.” These incidents fueled ongoing debates about Biden’s cognitive abilities, particularly as he campaigns for re-election.
Defending Foreign Policy
During the press conference, Biden robustly defended his foreign policy record. He spoke extensively on the US’s strategic competition with China and the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Cautions to Netanyahu
Biden revealed that he had cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against occupying Gaza and had communicated with Chinese President Xi Jinping to dissuade further support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“No Reason to Speak”
However, when asked if he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden stated, “I have no reason to speak to him right now.”
Democratic Party Pressure
Despite a relatively strong showing during the press conference, Biden’s mistakes have only added to the feeling that all is not well in the Democratic Party. Whether the slip-ups were innocent gaffes, which Biden has been infamous for throughout his political career, every mistake he makes until the election will be viewed through the prism of his age and mental acuity.
Calls to Step Aside
As it currently stands, Biden is already facing increasing pressure from within his party to step aside. Connecticut Congressman Jim Himes, among others, publicly called for Biden to withdraw from the race.
Himes’s Tweet
Himes wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “We must put forth the strongest candidate possible to confront the threat posed by Trump’s promised MAGA authoritarianism. I no longer believe that is Joe Biden.”
Biden Remains Resolute
Despite this, Biden remained resolute, asserting that he would only leave the race if polling data showed he had no chance of winning.
Starmer’s Continued Support
Following the meeting and subsequent press conference, Starmer remained steadfast in his support for Biden. He reiterated that Biden had fully grasped the issues discussed and managed the conversation with clarity and precision.
Special Relationship Affirmed
Starmer’s endorsement was a significant moment, no doubt meant to cement in the minds of both American and British lawmakers that the “special relationship” still holds and that Britain and America still share a mutual commitment to addressing global challenges.
Complex Dynamics
The juxtaposition of Starmer’s supportive comments and Biden’s press conference gaffes encapsulates the complex dynamics of Biden’s re-election campaign. While Biden continues to assert his capability to serve another term, the pressure from within his party and the scrutiny from the media present formidable challenges.
Election Uncertainty
Starmer’s endorsement provided a much-needed boost, yet it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to save the incumbent President when Americans go to the polls in four months.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Drop of Light.
Grant Gallacher is a seasoned writer with expertise in politics and impactful daily news. His work, deeply rooted in addressing issues that resonate with a wide audience, showcases an unwavering commitment to bringing forth the stories that matter. He is also known for satirical writing and stand up comedy.