Biden Makes Ill-Timed Gaffe on World Stage

A few weeks ago, the gaffe might not have drawn much attention. But with the world's focus on President Biden's performance at the NATO summit, Biden misspoke in a headline-making way Thursday while introducing Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky during a NATO speech:

• "Now, I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination. Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin," Biden said, per the Hill.

• After a beat, Biden caught himself. "President Putin?" he said. "He's going to beat President Putin. President Zelensky." Biden added: "I'm so focused on beating Putin, we've got to worry about it."
• Zelensky responded with a quip: "I'm better," he said, comparing himself to the Russian leader. "You are," said Biden. "A hell of a lot better."
• Watch the moment here. A BBC reporter says some of the other world leaders onstage were "wincing and turning to look at one another."
• In the New York Times, Michael Grynbaum notes that the gaffe came just in time to be included in the 6:30pm national newscasts of ABC, CBS, and NBC—"the most watched news programs in the country."
• The mistake came ahead of Biden's high-stakes news conference with reporters.

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