Joe Biden was confused over Rishi Sunak’s title when the pair met in the White House by welcoming him as “Mr President” in an embarrassing gaffe. The US President swiftly corrected himself, joking he had “promoted” Mr Sunak. Mr Biden, 80, seated across from Mr Sunak for the bilateral meeting, said: “Well, Mr President – Mr President, I just promoted you. Mr Prime Minister, it’s great to have you back.”
Mr Sunak, who laughed off the mistake, has not been to the White House before as prime minister, having only taken office in October.
Mr Biden told him: “In the past few months we have met each other in San Diego and then we met in Belfast and we met in Hiroshima.
“And now we’re here we’re going solve all the problems of the world in the next 20 minutes.”
This is not the first time the US President has appeared to fumble his words.
During his visit to the Republic of Ireland in April, Mr Biden appeared to confuse the name of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team with the Black and Tans – a controversial War of Independence-era police force in Ireland.
Mr Sunak is staying at Blair House, which the US government started using as official diplomatic housing after Churchill reportedly once tried to enter President Franklin D Roosevelt’s White House private quarters at 3am, only to be stopped by Eleanor Roosevelt.
Referring to the story, Mr Sunak said: “Wandering around at three in the morning. Winston Churchill bothering Mrs Roosevelt.
“Don’t worry, you won’t see me there bothering you and the First Lady.”
The Oval Office talks are expected to cover the war in Ukraine, China, economic security, international cooperation on regulating the growing field of artificial intelligence and more.
Mr Sunak has already had four face-to-face meetings with Mr Biden since he became prime minister, but the talks in Washington will offer the two leaders a chance for their most sustained discussions to date.
Mr Biden vowed: “We will put our values front and centre.”
While the PM said: “Our economies are seeing perhaps the biggest transformation since the Industrial Revolution as new technologies provide incredible opportunities, but also give our adversaries more tools.”
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is also expected to appear high up on the leaders’ agenda with the US and UK being the two biggest donors to the war effort.
The Prime Minister is also is seeking to make the case for Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to succeed outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who is due to end his term leading the 31-member military alliance in September.
Mr Stoltenberg is slated to meet with the US president in Washington on Monday.
Leaders from the alliance are set to gather in Lithuania on July 11-12 for their annual summit.
