In a high-profile press conference at the NATO summit, President Joe Biden's tendency for gaffes was on full display as he referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as "Vice President Trump," leaving senior officials in an uncomfortable position. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and national security adviser Jake Sullivan were seated in the front row as Biden made the error-laden statement at the Washington Convention Center.

Biden, 81, addressed reporters and tried to clarify his intentions, stating, "Look, I wouldn't have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president if I think she's not qualified to be president." Secretary Blinken, who had previously praised Biden for restoring global confidence in the US, visibly reacted by closing his eyes and dropping his head slightly, seemingly in disbelief over the major mix-up on the world stage. Sullivan, equally taken aback, tried to contain his emotions by putting his hand up to his mouth before resting it on his chin in apparent disbelief.

In contrast, Secretary Austin appeared unfazed by Biden's remarks, maintaining a stony face throughout the mishap while occasionally nodding slightly. However, the public perception of Biden's series of gaffes has intensified the call for him not to seek re-election among congressional Democrats. They fear that running with an 81-year-old president would only secure a victory for former President Donald Trump, who is expected to be the Republican nominee.

After Biden's press conference, leading Democrats such as Reps. Jim Himes of Connecticut, Eric Sorensen of Illinois, and Scott Peters of California joined the chorus of voices urging Biden to retire after his term. These pleas followed the previous call from 14 House Democrats for Biden to drop out of the presidential race. Responding swiftly to Biden's mistake, Trump took to social media to mock his potential opponent, writing, "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 wasn't qualified to be president.' Great job, Joe!"

According to a recent poll by the Pew Research Center, Trump currently holds a 4-point lead over Biden, with less than a quarter of Americans believing the incumbent president is "mentally sharp." Biden's mix-up with world leaders continued as he mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as his enemy, Russian President Vladimir Putin, causing gasps of disbelief from the audience. Only when an audience member shouted "Zelensky!" did Biden correct himself.

Despite these embarrassing gaffes, Biden swiftly apologized for the mishap, attributing it to his intense focus on countering Putin. The series of slip-ups occurred as leaders from 19 other nations gathered to announce the signing of the Ukraine Compact, a new security agreement between Kyiv and various NATO allies.

In addition to the gaffes, Biden stumbled over his pronunciation of the word "neurologist" while addressing concerns about his cognitive health. Speculation has arisen that the president may be dealing with Parkinson's disease or a related condition. Biden mentioned seeing neurologist Dr. Kevin Cannard, but confusion arose when press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre indicated that the visit took place in January, while Biden claimed it happened in February.

As Biden's gaffes continue to make headlines, concerns about his mental sharpness persist. With the 2024 presidential race on the horizon, the pressure for Biden to make a decision about his political future continues to mount.