Biden Defends Verbal Slips and Stands Firm on Re-Election Bid

In a post-NATO Summit conference, President Joe Biden defended his verbal confusion between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and Russian President Putin, asserting it was the 'most successful conference.' Amid scrutiny over his age, Biden emphasized his intent to continue his election campaign against Trump.

US President Joe Biden has defended his verbal slip where he mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Russian President Vladimir Putin. Biden labeled the NATO Summit conference as the 'most successful' he's attended in a long time, asking journalists if they've seen a better one.

Clarifying his mix-up, Biden questioned whether his mistake had harmed the U.S.' stance or the conference's success. 'What do you think? I corrected myself immediately,' he said, noting that several world leaders praised his leadership for unifying them. 'Find me a leader who didn't think it was successful,' he added.

The comments came after Biden introduced Zelenskyy as Putin during a Ukraine Compact event, quickly correcting himself and emphasizing his focus on defeating Putin. Biden also confused Vice President Kamala Harris with former President Donald Trump, prompting Trump to mock him on social media. Biden retorted, distinguishing their backgrounds.

Facing scrutiny over his age and mental fitness, Biden reiterated his commitment to running in the upcoming election. Despite pressure from some Democrats to step aside, Biden stated his belief in beating Trump and called for party unity to ensure victory.

In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden underscored the importance of rallying together to defeat Trump. 'It's time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump,' he wrote, as some key supporters intensified their efforts to back his candidacy.

(With inputs from agencies.)