Biden's long list of senile moments at D-Day event topped off with huge blunder (2024)

Biden confused Chinese President Xi Jinping with Russian President Vladimir Putin (Image: Getty)

President Joe Biden confused Chinese President Xi Jinping with Russian President Vladimir Putin during an interview this week. The embarrassing blunder is the latest in a gaffe-strewn presidential campaign that has raised questions about the 81-year-old's fitness for office.

During an interview with TIME Magazine, President Biden defended his new tariffs on China's trade practices, arguing that they would not raise prices on American consumers, despite contrary claims from economists.

When asked whether the tariffs would increase inflation, he said: "No, because here's the deal. There's a difference. I made it clear to Putin from the very beginning that—I'm not, we're not engaging in..."

He trailed off momentarily, before adding: "For example, Trump wants a 10 percent percent tariff on everything. That will raise the price of everything in America."

On Thursday, the US leader attended the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion (Image: Getty)

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TIME magazine was forced to add an editor's note to the interview transcript, which read: "Editor’s note: Biden appeared to mean Xi here, not Putin."

The US tariffs, imposed in May, hit Chinese electric vehicles and advanced batteries.

The TIME magazine article, titled 'We Are the World Power - How Joe Biden Leads' was intended to show off President Biden's foreign policy credentials and his fight for democracy worldwide.

However, the latest mishap follows reports in the Wall Street Journal this week that some leading Democrats who have worked with the US leader are concerned that he is cognitively "slipping".

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According to the report, dozens of people claimed the commander-in-chief often speaks so softly in the Oval Office that many struggle to understand what he is saying. Others alleged that Mr Biden was increasingly relying on notes from aides while juggling policy details.

On Thursday, the US leader attended the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion and again raised eyebrows from viewers with an astonishing number of gaffes.

Joe Biden 'pulled away' from D-Day event by wife Jill

At one point, US First Lady Jill Biden was seen pulling her husband Joe Biden, away from a D-Day commemoration ceremony in Normandy, France - leaving several social media users completely baffled. Veteran Navy intel officer Jack Poso posted a clip of the incident on X, formerly Twitter, and wrote: "Jill Biden just pulled Joe out of the Normandy event. Macron staying behind with the veterans. What’s going on?"

Democrats told the Wall Street Journal this week that they were concerned Biden was 'slipping' (Image: Getty)

Joe Biden tries to sit on 'invisible chair' during D-Day memorial event

At another point, the US President attempted to sit on a chair and lingered for a few seconds after shaking hands with his French counterpart Emmanual Macron. The awkward moment led to a series of posts on social media - and a surge in searches asking whether the 81-year-old is 'sitting on an invisible chair'.

Biden appears to fall asleep during D-Day speeches

Joe Biden closed his eyes for a long time while listening to French speakers at the D-Day ceremony. The moment was captured by the broadcast cameras. At the time, he was sat alongside Emmanuel Macron, his wife Dr Jill Biden, Germany's Olaf Scholz, and Canada's Justin Trudeau. He was later shown again with his eyes closed during President Macron's address.

Biden claims to have known Putin 'for over 40 years'

During an interview in France with ABC, the US leader told the US broadcaster that he has known Vladimir Putin "for over 40 years," - despite the fact that Mr Putin served as an undercover KGB intelligence officer for the Soviet Union throughout the entire 1980s.

The US leader used his speech in France to draw comparisons between World War 2 and the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. He reaffirmed America’s commitment to the defence of Ukraine, saying that "we will not walk away".

He argued for holding strong against Putin, saying "to surrender to bullies, to bow down to dictators is simply unthinkable" and that to give in "means we’d forget what happened here" on the beaches of Normandy.

The president also appeared lost and turned around during the D-Day ceremony.

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