Putin instead of Selensky Biden defends his candidacy - and slips up again
With a press conference at the end of the NATO summit, the US President wants to dispel doubts about his mental suitability for another term in office. But not everything goes smoothly.
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- US President Biden also used his eagerly awaited press conference after the NATO summit in Washington for his election campaign.
- He reaffirmed that he would not withdraw his candidacy for the election.
- During the meeting, his appearance in particular came under scrutiny.
US President Joe Biden used his eagerly awaited press conference at the end of the NATO summit to defend his domestic and foreign policy record. He dismissed questions about his increasingly questionable ability to govern the country for another four years at the event on Thursday evening (local time). "I am not concerned with my legacy. I'm about finishing the job I started," he said.
The 81-year-old insisted that support from voters was strong. He would stay in the presidential race and win. He would not do this "if I slowed down", he said, assuring that he could still do his job. "My schedule is full," he explained. "So if I slow down and can't get the job done, that's a sign that I shouldn't do it. But there are no signs of that yet - none."
A disastrous TV duel with former President Donald Trump on June 27 had recently raised doubts as to whether the 81-year-old still has the mental freshness for another term in office. A particular focus at the press conference on Thursday was on whether Biden would allow himself any further slips and weaknesses. Hours earlier, he had mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj as Vladimir Putin at a joint meeting - but quickly corrected himself.
Congress, George Clooney: Biden should end his candidacy
By Thursday evening, around a dozen Democratic MPs had called on Biden to end his candidacy. On Wednesday evening (local time), Peter Welch was the first Democratic senator to call on the 81-year-old to withdraw his candidacy. And Hollywood star George Clooney recently wrote in an opinion piece in the New York Times that he loved Biden, but that the party would lose the race for the White House and control of the US Congress with him as its candidate.
"I'm determined to run, but I think it's important that I allay fears - let them see me out there," Biden addressed the growing doubts at Thursday night's press conference. But then he allowed himself another slip.
In the first reporter's question, he was asked to comment on the loss of support among many Democrats and trade unionists. He was also asked to comment on Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden initially appeared defiant, saying that the United Auto Workers union had supported his candidacy, "but go ahead". But then he confused his deputy Harris and his rival Trump. "I wouldn't have made Vice President Trump vice president if she wasn't qualified," he said.
"I think I'm best qualified to govern"
A reply from Trump was not long in coming. He published a video clip on his social media platform in which Biden says "Vice President Trump". "Good job, Joe", Trump added sarcastically.
Biden delivered his eight-minute speech on NATO at the start of the press conference with the help of teleprompters. "Today, Kiev is still standing and NATO is stronger than ever," he concluded. He then took questions from a total of ten journalists about his mental fitness, his domestic and foreign policy and - for the most part - the future of his re-election campaign.
"I believe I am best qualified to govern," Biden said. He was qualified to win and would stay in the race until his staff told him there was no way he could win the election. "Nobody is saying that," Biden explained. "No poll says that."