Olaf Scholz defends US President Joe Biden and his blunders

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has praised US President Joe Biden for his leadership skills, despite being faced with massive doubts about his mental fitness. “It would be a big mistake to underestimate the president,” Scholz said on Thursday in an interview with US broadcaster PBS on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington. “His leadership has been very important in recent years and months.” The US president has been “successful in doing the necessary things, for example in organizing the NATO alliance.”

Regarding Biden’s performance in the televised debate with his presidential rival Donald Trump at the end of June, which was generally considered disastrous, the Chancellor said in the interview conducted in English that he had seen the 81-year-old “clear and focused” in the debate at the time.

Scholz was also present at Biden’s blunder when he greeted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: “I now hand over the floor to the President of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he does determination. Ladies and gentlemen: President Putin.”

Olaf Scholz stands perplexed next to Joe Biden

As he turned away from the lectern, the 81-year-old noticed the mistake. He immediately corrected himself and apologized, saying he was so focused on defeating Putin. Zelensky, who was standing next to him on the stage, jokingly countered with the words: “I am better.”

Scholz, who was also on stage and watched the scene somewhat perplexed, commented on the incident soberly: “Slips of the tongue happen.” If you observe enough, you will find enough mistakes. The content of Biden’s speech does not change as a result.

But the real test for the US President is still to come: on Friday night he plans to hold a press conference at the end of the NATO summit.