Joe Biden has suffered another humiliating disaster live on stage after botching a speech in the latest in a series of verbal blunders.
Biden, 80, has been at the center of a host of gaffes in recent weeks as many critics increasingly question his ability to run in the upcoming presidential election.
The latest embarrassing moment for the president came during a speech to the Pacific Island leaders at White House forum on Monday.
He got completely stumped as he was trying to dictate the abbreviation of his administration’s Pacific Islands Infrastructure Initiative.
Biden told the round table of leaders: “Today I’m pleased to announce we’re working with Congress to invest £32 billion in our Pacific Islands Infrastructure Initiative.
“We call it the P, PI — anyways, it doesn’t matter what we call it but that’s what it is.” Laughter can be heard from some of those gathered at the 18-member forum.”
The 80-year-old continued: “I was gonna get back to acronyms and I’m gonna withstand not doing that.”
The commander-in-chief met with Pacific Islands leaders at the White House forum to listen to their concerns about the impact of climate change on their region. He announced new US aid to help the island prepare for its effects.
It is widely known Biden suffered a speech impediment as a child, and the president has often talked about the challenges throughout his life in overcoming a stutter.
But the latest fumble from the commander-in-chief will likely only fuel questions about his age and if he is fit to lead the country for a second term.
Last week, Biden also appeared to wander off stage at the UN after forgetting to shake hands with Brazil’s President Lula who looked visibly annoyed.
The awkward move came after the meeting got off to a bumpy start when the 80-year-old bumbled into a seven-foot Brazilian flag as he approached the podium.
Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 77, looked irate during the remarks – and while he spoke, Biden fumbled with his headset being used for translation.
At the start of his speech, Lula looked at Biden and said: “Can you hear me, President Biden? This is a historical moment for Brazil and for the US?”
Again, looking annoyed, he asked: “President Biden can you hear me? You can? Yes, good.”
Biden has now come under furious attack from a Washington-based foreign policy expert, who claimed he is “sinking faster than the Titanic” and is an “increasing embarrassment for the US on the world stage”.
Nile Gardiner told Daily Express US: “Joe Biden is increasingly coming across as out of his mind and deeply out of touch with the American people.
“He is one of the most unpopular US presidents in American history. Biden is sinking faster than the Titanic and this is a president who really is plummeting fast.
“You can’t trust anything he says – he constantly lies, and invents stuff about his past, he is somebody who is thoroughly untrustworthy, and now facing calls for his impeachment on Capitol Hill.
“The Biden presidency has been a monumental disaster for the US.”
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