Politics

Zelensky shrugs off Biden’s ‘President Putin’ flub

By
Jon Levine
Published July 13, 2024, 11:23 a.m. ET

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shrugged off President Biden’s galling gaffe in which the American leader referred to him as arch-rival Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

“It’s a mistake. I think United States gave a lot of support for Ukrainians. We can forget some mistakes, I think so,” Zelensky told reporters Saturday while speaking at Ireland’s Shannon airport. Zelensky was in the country for talks with Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris.

U.S. President Joe Biden shaking hands with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the 75th NATO Summit in Washington, DC.
President Biden has been dogged by verbal flubs in recent months. Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy seen here in a black sweater with a high neck at a table, talking during a meeting with Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris in a bilateral meeting at Shannon Airport, Ireland
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he appreciated continued U.S. support for his country. REUTERS

Biden, who is facing growing questions about his cognitive fitness, made the flub during a NATO press conference Thursday before swiftly correcting himself.

“I’m so focused on beating Putin,” Biden ad-libbed. “You are a hell of a lot better,” he added.

During the same event he also confused Vice President Harris for Donald Trump.

Since a disastrous debate performance last month, Biden has faced calls from a cascade of Democrats, donors and Hollywood A-listers to drop out of the race. The president has insisted he has no plans to exit the race.