In an embarrassing verbal stumble, President Joe Biden mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "President Putin" during a NATO conference on Thursday. The gaffe occurred less than an hour before Biden's highly anticipated news conference, which comes following his sluggish debate against former President Donald Trump in June.

President Biden's confusion of Zelenskyy's name with that of the Russian leader, who has been engaged in a long-standing conflict with Ukraine, highlights concerns about Biden's mental competency. The incident occurred during his introduction of Zelenskyy, as Biden attempted to praise the Ukrainian leader's courage and determination.

Immediate realization of his mistake led Biden to correct himself, recognizing Zelenskyy as "President Zelenskyy" and emphasizing his belief that Zelenskyy would be successful in his dealings with President Putin. Zelenskyy skillfully handled the situation with humor, responding, "I'm better." Biden, in turn, acknowledged this by remarking, "You are a hell of a lot better."

The incident further fuels existing concerns surrounding Biden's mental sharpness. At the age of 81, President Biden is the oldest sitting U.S. president ever, and his recent debate performance and other verbal miscues have raised doubts about his mental acuity.

Critics of Biden within the Democratic Party have seized on this stumble, calling for him to drop out as the party's presidential nominee. While President Biden has long dealt with stuttering, it is his recent slip-ups and moments of apparent confusion that have intensified the discourse around his mental state.

As the news emerges, people are eagerly awaiting further updates and assessing the implications of President Biden's verbal misstep. The incident has once again brought attention to the ongoing debate over the mental capability of the country's leader.