In a recent campaign speech delivered in Las Vegas, President Joe Biden inadvertently mixed up French President Emmanuel Macron with his predecessor, François Mitterrand, who passed away in 1996. The confusion arose when President Biden recounted an anecdote about a meeting with G7 leaders that took place in June 2021.

During the meeting, President Biden proudly declared that "America is back," to which he claimed "Mitterrand from Germany" responded with a curious question about his return. Realizing his mistake, the President quickly corrected himself by stating that he meant "Mitterrand from France." The official White House transcript of the speech confirmed the correction, crossing out "Mitterrand" and replacing it with "Macron."

It is worth noting that President Biden actually met François Mitterrand in January 1988 during a gathering of the European Affairs Committee, several years after Mitterrand assumed the French presidency in 1981. Mitterrand served as President of France until 1995 and passed away the following year at the age of 79.

President Biden's mix-up with Macr...terrand marks just one in a string of verbal gaffes made during his high-profile speeches. Often referring to himself as a "gaffe machine," the President's slip-ups have become subject to intense scrutiny by his political opponents.

In June 2023, President Biden confused the ongoing war in Ukraine with the Iraq War, which had concluded in 2011. Additionally, during a speech on gun control, he bewilderingly exclaimed, "God save the Queen, man." The White House later clarified that his remark was directed at someone in the crowd, attempting to dismiss the confusion.

This is not the first time President Biden has experienced such blunders. In June of the previous year, he mistakenly referred to the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as "Mr. President" during a meeting. These repeated gaffes have been seized upon by his political rivals, including former President Donald Trump, who has criticized President Biden's mental competency.

It is worth noting, however, that former President Trump has faced questions regarding his own age and mental faculties. Critics argue he has lost some of his sharpness since his initial presidential campaigns in 2015 and 2016.

As the 2024 campaign season looms ahead, both President Biden and his opponents will likely continue to seize on each other's verbal missteps, seeking to gain an advantage in the realm of public perception.