President Joe Biden held a solo news conference on Thursday after a NATO summit in Washington, aiming to reassure voters and Democratic officials about his capacity to serve and defeat former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. However, the conference was marred by several false and misleading statements.
Biden’s Putin-Zelensky Gaffe
Biden downplayed a gaffe made earlier in the day, where he mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin” before correcting himself. At the press conference, Biden claimed he added five other names after the correction. Facts First: Biden’s claim was false. He did not mention “five other names” after correcting the mix-up. Instead, after correcting himself, Biden stood silently while Zelensky made his remarks.
Misleading Travel Statement
Biden stated he would pace himself better for the next debate, mentioning he would not travel “15 time zones a week before.” Facts First: This is misleading. Biden returned to the US from Europe 12 days before the June 27 CNN presidential debate, not a week prior. He attended a fundraiser in Los Angeles on June 15, returned to the White House on June 16, and then went to Camp David for debate preparations.
Inaccurate Description of Trump’s NATO Comment
Criticizing Trump’s stance on NATO, Biden said Trump recently remarked, “I just learned about NATO.” Facts First: Biden’s description was inaccurate. Trump stated at a rally that he didn’t know much about NATO before his first summit in 2017, not recently.
Incorrect Claim About Hamas Popularity
Discussing the Israel-Hamas conflict, Biden said Hamas is not popular in the West Bank. Facts First: Public opinion polls indicate the opposite, with Hamas’ popularity increasing since its attack on Israel last October.
Misleading Endorsement Claim
Biden claimed the United Auto Workers (UAW) “just” endorsed him. Facts First: The UAW endorsed Biden over five months ago, on January 24, not recently.
Misleading Statement on Afghanistan
Biden claimed he was “totally opposed to the occupation” of Afghanistan after 9/11. Facts First: Initially, Biden supported a sustained US military presence and nation-building efforts in Afghanistan. He only became a critic years later, during his vice presidency under Obama.
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