President Biden looked into the audience at an event in North Carolina Thursday searching for Rep. Deborah Ross, saying he had just posed for a picture with her before realizing the lawmaker was back in Washington and he’d taken a photo with someone else.
“Where’s Deborah?” Mr. Biden said, scanning the audience for the North Carolina Democrat.
“I just had my picture taken with her. That’s probably why she left,” he joked, appearing confused by her absence and continuing to look for her.
“Oh, she couldn’t be here, actually. That’s not true. I got her mixed up,” Mr. Biden said finally. “You know, she fights very hard for the people of this district and she’s up in Washington right now.”
Despite Mr. Biden correcting himself, the gaffe will likely be seized upon by Republicans and other critics of the president, who argue he lacks the mental capacity to be president.
At 81, Mr. Biden is the oldest president in U.S. history. But a string of gaffes, blunders, and moments of confusion have fueled attacks about his age from political opponents. White House officials have consistently rejected the charge, insisting Mr. Biden remains intellectually engaged and sharp.
In September 2022, Mr. Biden raised alarms at an event when asked for former Rep. Jackie Walorski, Indiana Republican, to stand up at a White House conference on ending hunger. Ms. Walorski had died a month earlier, a fact apparently forgotten by Mr. Biden.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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