Anthony Albanese says Joe Biden's Putin gaffe was ‘unfortunate’
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The news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said it was “unfortunate” that US President Joe Biden mistakenly called Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky “President Putin” during the NATO summit in Washington today.
The context: The slip up came prior to Biden’s press conference, where he also mixed up the names of Vice President Kamala Harris and his Republican rival Donald Trump.
“Look, I wouldn't have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president if she was not qualified to be president," Biden said.
Biden also insisted he was going ahead with his re-election bid.
This is despite mounting calls for him to step down since he performed poorly in the first presidential debate on 28 June.
In an interview today with radio station 4BC, Albanese was asked to comment on Biden’s gaffe regarding the Ukrainian president.
“Oh, look, everyone from time to time, I think, has made a slip. It clearly was on his mind who President Zelenskyy is fighting, but it certainly is unfortunate,” the prime minister said.
When asked whether Biden should step down from running in the election, Albanese said it was a “matter for the United States”.
What they said: “When I met with President Biden, he was certainly on top of his game. He chaired a meeting of the entire cabinet I had the privilege of meeting with,” Albanese said.
“I had a long meeting with him in the Oval Office. We had a couple of dinners, including the official State Dinner. And he certainly was on top of international affairs, the AUKUS defence arrangements and our relationship, which is so important between Australia and the United States,” Albanese said.
“As for the future of the presidency, of course, that's a matter for the people of the United States, who will go to an election in November, just like the UK election that was concluded last week was a matter for the people of Great Britain.”
During the press conference Biden said he had to “pace himself” in preparation for the next debate.
“I'm not going to be travelling into 15 time zones a week before. Anyway, that's what it was about… I love my staff, but they add things, add things all the time. I'm catching hell from my wife,” Biden said.
“... I'm determined on running, but I think it's important that I allay fears by seeing let them see me out there.
“... "I've taken three significant and intense neurological exams... in each case, as recently as February, and they say I'm in good shape.”
Trump took to Truth Social following the press conference, posting: “Crooked Joe begins his ‘Big Boy’ Press Conference with, “I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president, though I think she was not qualified to be president.’ Great job, Joe!”
The sources: The White House, Truth Social, PMO
