President Joe Biden’s remarks to the United Nations on Wednesday led to a viral moment when an allied leader, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol cursed at Biden… and was captured on a hot mic.
Biden had just pledged to increase America’s annual contribution to the U.N. Global Fund.
But he can’t do that without congressional approval.
Yoon was stunned by the empty promise.
“How could Biden not lose damn face if these f*****s do not pass it in Congress?” Yoon exclaimed to his aides, according to a report from the South China Morning Post.
A spokesman for the South Korean government scrambled to explain away the humiliating hot mic, apparently fearful it could strain U.S.-South Korean relations.
“He wasn’t speaking publicly on the stage but in passing, and although I don’t know who recorded it and how, I actually think it should be verified,” a South Korean spokesman said after.
“I think it’s highly inappropriate to draw a link between private remarks and diplomatic accomplishments,” the spokesman said about the criticism from South Korean media.
“It’s quite regrettable that a diplomatic disaster is being talked about over something like that when he is doing everything to complete a demanding schedule in the national interest of the Republic of Korea.”
Biden, during his time at the U.N. General Assembly, met with Secretary General António Guterres, and held his first meeting with new British Prime Minister Liz Truss, during which they discussed Russia’s war, energy security and China.
He also met with French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Yoon.
During a U.N. speech, Biden also went viral for an embarrassing moment of his own — getting lost trying to leave the stage.
Biden: “If you don’t think I have the energy and mental acuity, just watch me.”
Also Biden: pic.twitter.com/7fkeAx4ur3
— VOZ (@Voz_US) September 21, 2022
The Horn editorial team and the Associated Press contributed to this article