Video: The Strange Moment Biden Calls Australian PM ‘That Fellow Down Under’ Instead of His Name
President Joe Biden added to his reputation as a legendary gaffe machine Wednesday while announcing a new defense agreement with the United Kingdom and Australia. Biden thanked U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson by name…
President 👤Joe Biden added to his reputation as a legendary gaffe machine Wednesday while announcing a new defense agreement with the United Kingdom and 🇦🇺Australia.
Biden thanked U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson by name and then appeared to forget Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s name.
“And I want to thank that fellow Down Under. Thank you very much, pal. Appreciate it, Mr. Prime Minister,” the president said.
Crikey!
While hardly a diplomatic row, the presidential faux pas did not go unnoticed, with major media outlets in 🇦🇺Australia reporting on the incident.
Biden “quickly backtracked and addressed Mr. Morrison by name as he thanked him for his partnership, but the fumble was not missed,” The Australian reported.
acquire at least eight nuclear-powered submarines.”
Even Politico Europe got in on the act, noting Biden’s cringeworthy performance distracted Australians from the issue of a major military agreement between the three nations.
“Sure, Washington, London and Canberra have just signed a huge new defense pact. But what Australians are talking about is U.S. President 👤Joe Biden appearing to forget their prime minister’s name,” the outlet reported.
“Biden announced the new AUKUS military alliance with Britain and 🇦🇺Australia to share advanced technologies, including the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, at a press conference on Wednesday. He was flanked by television screens beaming in U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian PM Scott Morrison at their own press conferences.”
Of course, the president — who has a mind like a steel trap, albeit an old, rusty steel trap that doesn’t work very well — has a history of not remembering names.
In July, Biden could not recall the last name of his own health and human services Secretary, Xavier Becerra.
Naturally, the establishment media that obsessively highlighted every breach of presidential protocol by nonpolitician President Donald Trump remained relatively quiet on Biden’s less-than-professional slight of the Australian prime minister.
