President Joe Biden’s “big boy” press conference on Thursday was intended to reassure the public and his own party about his fitness for office — but instead ignited a firestorm of criticism and renewed concerns about his cognitive ability.
The event, which took place against the backdrop of growing Democratic Party infighting, has become a flashpoint for both allies and opponents of the elderly president.
One of the most notable moments came when Biden confused Vice President Kamala Harris with former President Donald Trump.
“I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be Vice President ’cause I think she was not qualified to be President,” Biden said.
Biden’s team reacted with quiet horror. Take a look —
The reaction from Biden's team when he called Kamala "Vice President Trump"
ABSOLUTELY PRICELESS 🤣😂💀 pic.twitter.com/WLSFD2vDYp
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) July 12, 2024
Trump wasted no time capitalizing on the mistake, mocking Biden on Truth Social and further fueling doubts about the president’s mental acuity.
The incident has provided ample ammunition for Biden’s critics, who argue that the 81-year-old doesn’t have the fitness for the demanding role of president.
Later, Biden confused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Russian President Vladimir Putin when introducing him — a brutally awkward moment.
🇺🇸🇺🇦 Watch Zelensky's reaction as Biden calls him Putin 😭 pic.twitter.com/TfVoAoryDX
— Censored Men (@CensoredMen) July 11, 2024
When confronted about the mistakes by a reporter, Biden’s response was puzzling.
Asked how he would combat criticism from Trump about his mental capacity, Biden simply replied, “Listen to him!” before shuffling away from the podium.
The fallout from the press conference has extended beyond Republican critics to include members of Biden’s own party.
Rep. Jim Himes, D-C.T., Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee, blasted Biden’s capabilities on MSNBC’s “Alex Wagner Tonight.”
“This is about whether you believe the trajectory, both for the country, three years from now, when the Russians are fueling missiles and Iran is doing something and the political opponents are calling him a traitor, is he able to be up three days straight and to make all of the correct decisions, right?” Hines asked.
Jim Himes, the top Democrat on House Intel and one of the latest to call on Biden to get out: “Imagine that three months from now, we get another performance like there was in the debate, right before the election. Do you want to take that risk? I don’t." pic.twitter.com/HOk0FgWa2I
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) July 12, 2024
With Biden already the oldest president in U.S. history, there have been calls from both sides of the aisle for more rigorous cognitive testing at the White House.
As the 2024 election looms, Biden’s recent public fiascos may prove to be a turning point. Democrats, already nervous about their fading electoral prospects, are now faced with the difficult question of whether to replace the incumbent candidate who doesn’t want to leave.
The White House has attempted to downplay the incident, emphasizing Biden’s policy achievements and his foreign policy experience.
But recent polls show that American voters are no longer fooled.
As the fallout continues, Biden’s latest press conference did little to quell concerns about his fitness for office.
Instead, it has opened new lines of attack for his opponents and deepened anxieties among his supporters. With the 2024 presidential race on the horizon, the Democratic Party faces tough decisions about its leadership and its future.