President Joe Biden faced criticism and ridicule after he mistakenly referred to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as “the president of Mexico” during a press conference on Thursday.
The gaffe came hours after Biden angrily rejected a special counsel’s report that questioned his cognitive function and memory.
Biden was addressing the media after meeting with el-Sisi on the sidelines of the COP27 climate summit in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt. He praised the bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Egypt, calling the latter “the mother of the world” and a “great ally”. However, he also said, “I want to thank the president of Mexico for being here and for his leadership on this issue.”
The error was quickly noticed by reporters and social media users, who mocked Biden for confusing two very different countries and leaders. Some also pointed out the irony of Biden making such a mistake after dismissing the findings of a special counsel, who had investigated his possession of classified information and his ability to recall personal milestones.
The special counsel, appointed by former President Donald Trump, had released a report earlier on Thursday that claimed Biden had “significant memory impairments” and “difficulty remembering basic facts”. The report cited examples such as Biden forgetting the name of his first wife, the year he graduated from law school, and the number of grandchildren he has. The report also suggested that Biden may have violated the law by keeping classified documents in his home.
Biden had responded to the report by calling it “a political hit job” and “a bunch of malarkey”. He insisted that he had “no memory problems” and that he was “fit to be president”. He also challenged the special counsel to a public debate and a cognitive test.
Biden’s blunder on Thursday, however, seemed to undermine his claims and fuel the doubts about his mental acuity. Some critics called for his resignation or impeachment, while others questioned his ability to handle the challenges of the presidency. Some also expressed concern about the impact of his gaffe on the U.S. foreign policy and its relations with Egypt and Mexico.
