Kamala Harris appears to silently correct Biden’s ‘Iranian’ gaffe by mouthing ‘Ukrainian’
Joe Biden called on the world to unite behind the ‘Iranian people’ surrounded by Russian tanks in Kyiv
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Vice president Kamala Harris appeared to correct Joe Biden’s State of the Union “Iranian” gaffe by mouthing “Ukrainian” under her breath.
An unverified video posted online after the speech zoomed in on Harris’s response to Biden confusing Ukrainian people with Iranian people.
She looked to whisper the correct “Ukrainian” as Biden either made a sudden and dramatic shift in foreign policy towards Iran, or slurred his words to being inaudible.
The president mixed up during a key moment trying to inspire support for and among Ukrainians early on during his State of the Union address speech.
“Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he’ll never gain the hearts and souls of the Iranian people,” Biden said to an awkward slow clap.
“He’ll never, he’ll never extinguish their love of freedom,” he continued before someone yelled from the crowd and the trepidatious applause grew.
“And he will never, never weaken the resolve of the free world.”
Whether it was a stutter, gaffe or geographical confusion, Biden was already facing questions about his “mental sharpness” going into his first State of the Union.
A new poll by ABC News/The Washington Post released on the eve of the speech found that 54 per cent of Americans don’t believe he has the “mental sharpness it takes to serve effectively as president”.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments