Biden mistakes living European leader for dead one – for second time in a week
Joe Biden has mistakenly referred to deceased European politicians as if they were alive in two separate incidents this week, raising concerns about his age during the election campaign.
At a New York fundraiser, Biden incorrectly mentioned former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who passed away in 2017, instead of Angela Merkel, while discussing the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.
Earlier, in Nevada, he confused the late French President François Mitterrand with current President Emmanuel Macron in a similar context.
At 81, the oldest incumbent president running for reelection, Biden's physical readiness is scrutinized amidst a rigorous schedule, with a recent poll showing that voters, including Democrats, have apprehensions about his mental and physical state.
Biden's verbal missteps have long marked his career, exacerbated by his struggle with a stutter, but concerns are amplified by opponents, particularly from Republican and conservative media circles.
Donald Trump, Biden's probable 2024 challenger and only four years his junior, has also made public gaffes. He incorrectly suggested that Nikki Haley, a Republican nominee contender, was responsible for Capitol security during the insurrection, confusing her with Nancy Pelosi.
Haley has taken a jab at both Trump and Biden's age, labeling them as "grumpy old men" in her campaign rhetoric.