During a recent speech at the 2021 G7 event, President Joe Biden once again found himself mixing up European leaders, this time confusing the late Helmut Kohl with current German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The gaffe occurred when Biden recounted a conversation with Kohl, who passed away four years ago, about a hypothetical situation involving the British parliament. Biden stated, “And then Helmut Kohl turned to me and said, ‘What would you say, Mr. President, if you picked up the London Times and learned that 1,000 people had broken down the doors of the British parliament, killed some bobbies on the way in, to deny the prime minister to take office.”
While this slip-up may seem minor, it marks the second time this week that President Biden has confused European leaders with their deceased counterparts. Just a few days ago, he mistakenly referred to French President Emmanuel Macron as the late François Mitterrand. Mitterrand served as the President of France from 1981 to 1995 and passed away in 1996.
This is not the first time President Biden has made embarrassing verbal blunders in public. Known for his gaffes, the 81-year-old leader has had several notable slips of the tongue. In July of 2023, he accidentally stated that “over 100” Americans had died from Covid-19, which was later corrected by the White House to “over 1 million.” Additionally, during a speech in June, he confused the ongoing war in Ukraine with the conflict in Iraq, claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “losing the war in Iraq.”
It is worth noting that President Biden’s opponent in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, former President Donald Trump, has also been prone to gaffes. While these verbal missteps may not be indicative of a candidate’s ability to govern effectively, they do provide fodder for critics and opponents seeking to undermine their credibility.
In conclusion, President Joe Biden’s recent mix-up of European leaders, referring to Helmut Kohl instead of Angela Merkel, adds to a growing list of verbal blunders. While these mistakes may not be unusual for the 81-year-old leader, they do raise questions about his attention to detail and knowledge of current international affairs. As the U.S. presidential election approaches, it remains to be seen how these gaffes will impact public perception and the political landscape.
