At high-stakes news conference, Biden calls Harris ‘Vice President Trump’ – The Mercury News

John T. Bennett | CQ-Roll Call (TNS)

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday stumbled during a key test that could help decide his political future, uttering more embarrassing verbal gaffes under the brightest of lights.

In an unscripted news conference that ran for more than an hour after a three-day conference with leaders of NATO countries, Biden likely prevented an avalanche of fellow Democrats from calling for him to exit the race against Donald Trump — though one prominent House member did just that moments after he left the stage.

But his latest verbal stumbles surely did little during the high-stakes news conference to eliminate further questions about the 81-year-old’s ability to run, win and serve another four years, questions that exploded after Biden at times could not finish sentences during a June 27 debate.

Before Biden — who long has hailed himself a fighter — had a chance to joust with reporters, he committed his second major gaffe of the evening, referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump.” The slipup came during his answer to the twice-delayed evening session’s first question.

He had been asked if he had concerns about whether Harris could defeat the expected GOP nominee, should she become the Democratic Party’s nominee if Biden stepped aside. At an event earlier during a NATO summit in Washington, he made another slip. “Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” he said as he introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Biden quickly caught his gaffe: “No, we’re going to beat Putin. … I’m so focused on beating Putin.”

Biden also appeared to misstate economic data — about high inflation and debt levels — under his watch. He also referred to Asia as Europe, appearing to mix up an economic-themed trip on the other side of the globe. And despite having already debated former President Donald Trump, he said “the campaign hasn’t started in earnest yet.”

Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said after the event ended that Biden should “step away from the presidential campaign” because the party needs to “put forth the strongest candidate possible” to defeat Trump.

“I no longer believe that is Joe Biden, and I hope that, as he has throughout a lifetime of public service, he will continue to put our nation first and, as promised, make way for a new generation of leaders,” Himes said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Democratic lawmakers had said he needed a strong news conference and summit for them to maintain their support for his reelection bid. He had mostly passed that test all week, until the “Putin” and “Trump” verbal missteps, which undoubtedly will fuel more Democratic discontent — and drew instant mocking from Trump.

The unprecedented and surreal scene came at a venue of comfort for the former Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair: the conclusion of a NATO summit in Washington.

“America cannot retreat from the world,” Biden said at the start of his news conference, using prepared remarks and a teleprompter to tout the importance of keeping NATO together and strong as he took jabs at Trump. “Meanwhile, my predecessor has made it clear, no commitment to NATO. He made it clear that he would feel no obligation to honor Article 5. He’s already told (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, I quote, ‘Do whatever the hell you like.’”

Biden gave no indication he is considering dropping out. He described himself as “determined” to run, but acknowledged Democrats’ calls that he must “allay” concerns.

“I think I’m the most qualified. I beat him once and I will beat him again,” he told reporters, referring to Trump. “I’m not in this for my legacy. I’m in it to finish the job I’ve started.”

Asked about his fitness, Biden cited jobs created and legislation passed.

“Am I getting the job done?” Biden said, describing how he judges himself. To those who worry he is slowing down, he said: “There’s no indication of that, none.”

Amid questions about his cognitive health, Biden said he has passed three neurological tests as president, adding that his White House doctors have not suggested he needs another such exam.

In one sharp contrast to the debate, he grew animated talking about gun violence, saying with a pointed finger that more children are killed annually by “a bullet” in the U.S. than by other means.

“What the hell are we doing?” he shouted, before saying that Trump had promised to take no steps to curb gun violence.

Biden dismissed — around 7:45 p.m. — reporting that he told Democratic governors he intended to do less after 8 p.m., urging reporters to look at his nearly 20 public events since the debate. He dinged Trump, saying his foe has been “filling out his scorecard, before he hits the ball,” a reference to Trump recently holding no public events for a week but being caught on mobile phone videos playing golf.

The president, speaking clearer and more coherently than during his debate against Trump, defended Harris amid speculation he lacked confidence she could beat Trump and then be an effective commander in chief.

“She’s qualified to be president,” he said. “I wouldn’t have picked her unless I thought she was qualified to be president.”

The list of Democratic lawmakers calling for him to step aside grew before the news conference — Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez even appeared to suggest he should resign — and senators who huddled with his campaign team said they need to see more gumption, stamina and clarity.