President Joe Biden‘s performance in a radio interview has attracted scrutiny after he made a slip about his race and gender.
The 81-year-old was interviewed on Philadelphia’s Wurd radio station on Wednesday—one of his first interviews since his debate with Donald Trump on June 27, which was followed by sustained criticism over his poor performance.
During the debate, Biden gave a series of incoherent and confusing responses and appeared to trail off at times without finishing his sentences. He has since received calls from within his party to end his reelection bid and allow Democrats to install a new candidate for the general election. Biden’s odds of victory against Trump have also slumped, according to bookmakers.
In the radio interview on July 3, Biden appeared to confuse himself with Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman and first person of color to hold the role.
“By the way, I’m proud to be, as I said, the first vice president, the first Black woman to serve with a Black president, proud of the first Black woman in the Supreme Court,” he said. “There’s just so much that we can do because together we—there’s nothing. Look, this is the United States of America.”
Political commentators have weighed in on Biden’s remarks. On X, formerly Twitter, Peter Daou, a former adviser to past Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, wrote: “Make this stop. It’s criminal negligence on the part of the Democratic Party.”
Newsweek contacted Biden’s campaign for comment by email outside normal business hours.
Collin Rugg, a co-owner of the conservative news site Trending Politics, said on X that Biden had gone on an “incredibly confusing rant,” adding, “Holy sh*t.”
Gunther Eagleman, a conservative commentator, wrote, “He is unfit to serve.”
Biden is the oldest president in U.S. history, and his tenure has long been marred by claims that he lacks the mental fitness for the position. Detractors have pointed to his verbal gaffes and physical missteps, such as stumbling on the steps of Air Force One, as evidence that he should step down.
However, Biden has vowed to remain in the presidential race. In an interview with Milwaukee radio host Earl Ingram on Wednesday, the president addressed his poor debate performance.
“I had a bad night. And the fact of the matter is that … I screwed up. I made a mistake,” he said, adding, “We’re going to win this election.”
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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