Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Presidential Goof: Biden confuses Kamala Harris for Trump, Zelensky for Putin at NATO summit

“Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice-President Trump (sic) to be vice-president,” said U.S. President Joe Biden.

• July 12, 2024
Biden speaking at summit
Biden speaking at summit (credit: Aljazeera)

Amid growing calls for him to step down due to concerns over his mental and cognitive acuity, President Joe Biden committed a series of notable gaffes during the NATO summit on Thursday.

In a series of embarrassing blunders, Mr confused Vice-President Kamala Harris for Donald Trump and mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The 81-year-old president, who has faced increasing scrutiny from his party regarding his suitability for a second term, ignited yet another controversy as he struggled with basic details at the international summit.

When asked about Ms Harris’ potential to defeat Mr Trump in the 2024 election, Mr Biden said, “Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice-President Trump (sic) to be vice-president, did I think she’s not qualified to be president.”

He added, “So let’s start there, number one. The fact is that the consideration is that I think I’m the most qualified person to run for president. I beat him once, and I will beat him again.”

Again, Mr Biden erred when introducing the President of Ukraine during the summit, mistaking him for Vladimir Putin of Russia.

“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. President Putin,” Mr Biden said before realising his mistake and correcting himself.

Mr Biden’s errors further amplify existing doubts about his cognitive decline. In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump took the opportunity to mock the American president.

“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!” Mr Trump wrote.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Fire razed houses, shops in Ilorin

States

Fire razed dozens of houses, shops in Ilorin after electricity was restored: Official

An inferno has razed several houses and shops at Alangua Compound, opposite Kulende Market in the Sango area of Ilorin, Kwara, after electricity was restored.

Alwan Hassan

Politics

‘Call 112’: APC spokesman’s live TV boast backfires, emergency number fails to connect

The number failed to connect when the interviewer dialled it on live TV. Mr Hassan also dialled the emergency number on his phone, but it failed to connect.

Thomas Markle

World

Meghan’s father Thomas Markle detained for removing ankle monitor: DOJ

Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, has been detained in Florida over the alleged removal of his court-ordered ankle monitor.

Daniel Ojukwu

Rights

Court remands FIJ journalist on allegation of cyberstalking

The Abuja division of the Federal High Court on Tuesday remanded Daniel Ojukwu, a reporter with Foundation for Investigative Journalism, in prison custody.

Usman Mohammed

Abuja

Police arrest loan shark for raping, blackmailing Abuja women

Usman Mohammed nabbed for allegedly raping, cyberbullying, and intimidating women over debts they owed him in Abuja.

Plateau IDPs

NationWide

UNHCR: 64,000 Nigerians flee to Niger amid worsening insecurity under Tinubu

UNHCR says nearly 64,000 Nigerians have fled to the neighbouring Niger Republic since the beginning of 2026.