Remember when Biden gaffed and called Zelensky Putin while on stage at a NATO event?

On July 11th, Joe Biden made one of the biggest public of his presidency when he introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to speak in front of a crowded room during a NATO event in Washington.

Less than an hour before Biden was set to speak at a press conference that Newsweek reported Democrats believed was pivotal for the President’s political survival, he uttered a major mixup when introducing Zelensky. 

Biden was on stage introducing Zelensky at an event celebrating a bilateral agreement between the United States and Ukraine known as the Ukraine Compact, but as Biden introduced Zelensky he accidentally called him Putin in the worst way possible. 

"And 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 according to a quote published by Newsweek. 

The audience applauded as Biden repeated the name “Putin” before he realized exactly what he had done and tried to save the situation with a quick remark. “He’s going to beat President Putin,” Biden added. “President Zelensky.”

“I’m so focused on beating Putin, we’ve got to worry about it,” Biden went on to say. Zelensyk played along with Biden’s verbal save and replied: “I’m better.” To which Biden said: “You are, a h*** of a lot better.”

The incident quickly made headlines and each news outlet seemed to understand that the mixup wasn’t good for an embattled president who was facing calls to pull out of the 2024 presidential race over fears he may not be fit for office. 

“Biden’s stumble will garner significant attention as he fends off calls from some Democrats to step aside as the party’s nominee in November following his disastrous debate performance last month,” wrote The Hill’s Brett Samuels. 

“Democrats have expressed concerns Biden lacks the mental sharpness and stamina to vigorously campaign against former President Trump and make a successful case to the American public,” Samuels added. 

Biden laughed off the incident when asked about it during his press conference later in the evening, but the mixup turned out to be a major talking point in the days ahead.

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Biden would later drop out of the 2024 Election after a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump that left Americans, and his fellow Democrats, concerned that he was too old to run again for office.