Slip of the Tongue: Biden's Putin Gaffe Sparks Debate Over Re-Election Bid

President Joe Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as 'President Putin' during a NATO summit, drawing concerns from his Democratic party about his fitness for re-election. The gaffe happened amidst calls from some Democrats for Biden to step down in favor of a new leader.

U.S. President Joe Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as 'President Putin' on Thursday, sparking concerns within the Democratic party about his re-election campaign. The gaffe occurred during a NATO summit in Washington, drawing gasps from those present.

'Going to beat President Putin, President Zelenskiy. I am so focused on beating Putin,' Biden said while correcting himself. The error came before a highly anticipated news conference aimed at addressing concerns over his ability to beat Republican Donald Trump in the upcoming election and lead for another term.

Thirteen of the 213 House Democrats and one Senate Democrat have publicly urged Biden to withdraw from the race. The United Auto Workers union, which endorsed Biden in January, also met to discuss concerns about his candidacy. Biden will address these issues in a news conference where questions about his fitness for office are expected.