Follow Us

In presser defending his mental state, Biden labels Egyptian president as leader of Mexico

He further accounted for claims he appeared forgetful during the interview with Hur by stating that the "[s]imple truth is I sat for a five-hour interview over two days of events going back 40 years. At the same time I was managing an international crisis."

Published: February 8, 2024 8:51pm

During a press conference on Thursday evening in which President Joe Biden attempted to defend himself from claims in special counsel Robert Hur's report that he had willfully retained classified materials after leaving office and struggled with his memory, he erroneously referred to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as the president of Mexico.

During the press conference, an angry Biden defended himself, pointing to Hur's decision not to bring charges. He further accounted for claims he appeared forgetful during the interview with Hur by stating that the "[s]imple truth is I sat for a five-hour interview over two days of events going back 40 years. At the same time I was managing an international crisis."

"My memory's fine," he insisted. While later addressing his handling of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, however, Biden made the gaffe referring to el-Sisi as the leader of Mexico. The President of Mexico is Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Early in the press conference, an irate Biden fumed over claims he could not remember when his son Beau died.

"There's even reference that I don't remember when my son died. How in the Hell dare he raise that. Frankly, when I was asked the question I thought to myself '[w]as it any of their damn business?'" he quipped. "Let me tell you something, some of you have commented-- I wear since the day he died, every single day the rosary he got from Our Lady of --- every Memorial Day we hold a service remembering him, attending my friends and loved ones. I don't need anyone to remind me when he passed away."

Hur's report identified several memory lapses during the interview, however.

"He did not remember when he was vice president, forgetting on the first day of the interview when his term ended ('if it was 2013 - when did I stop being Vice President?'), and forgetting on the second day of the interview when his term began ('in 2009, am I still Vice President?')," Hur wrote.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.

The Facts Inside Our Reporter's Notebook

Just the News Spotlight

Support Just the News