In a recent address to the NAACP in Detroit, Michigan, President Joe Biden made yet another public gaffe that has drawn attention and criticism from across the political spectrum. During his speech, Biden claimed he was vice president during the COVID-19 pandemic, apparently confusing the timeline of his own presidency with his vice-presidential term under former President Barack Obama.
“And when I was vice president, things were kind of bad during the pandemic,” Biden said, according to reports. “And what happened was, Barack said to me, ‘Go to Detroit, and help fix it.’” This statement came despite the fact that the pandemic began in 2020, well after Biden had left his role as vice president.
The White House was quick to respond to the error, issuing an official correction to the transcript of the speech. The word “pandemic” was crossed out and replaced with the word “recession” in brackets, indicating that Biden had intended to refer to his actions during the 2009 financial crisis, rather than the COVID-19 pandemic.
Forever etched in the official White House transcript. Highly embarrassing! pic.twitter.com/V4Dsz54Su5
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 21, 2024
This latest gaffe is not the first time Biden has faced criticism for his public statements. Throughout his presidency, Biden has been frequently accused of being in cognitive decline, with critics pointing to his frequent slips of the tongue and apparent confusion during public appearances.
The incident has sparked a fresh wave of criticism from conservative commentators, who have long argued that Biden’s age and apparent cognitive issues make him unfit for the presidency. The White House, however, has maintained that Biden remains fully capable of fulfilling his duties as president, despite the occasional slip-up.
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, it remains to be seen how these ongoing gaffes will impact Biden’s reelection prospects. For now, the White House and Biden’s supporters are working to downplay the significance of these incidents, while his critics continue to highlight them as evidence of his cognitive decline.
