At a recent Quad summit held in Wilmington, Delaware, President Joe Biden, 81, fumbled when it came time to introduce Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leading to a brief moment of confusion and frustration. The incident occurred as Biden finished his remarks and asked, “Who am I introducing next? Who’s next?” He appeared unsure which leader was supposed to take the stage next.
An announcer quickly stepped in, clarifying that Modi, the leader of the world’s largest democracy, was up next. Modi came to the stage, shaking hands with Biden, who joked, “By the way, he’s from a small country like ours. A small population like ours,” adding, “He’s become a good and decent man. A good friend.” The remark was a notable gaffe, as India has a population of approximately 1.4 billion, making it the largest in the world, while the U.S. ranks third with about 333 million people.
The event took place during a two-day Quad summit, where leaders from the U.S., Japan, India, and Australia gathered to discuss key strategic issues, particularly in countering China’s growing influence. The summit was held at Biden’s home in Wilmington ahead of the United Nations General Assembly meeting.
During the event, Biden announced a global expansion of his Cancer Moonshot initiative, aimed at reducing cancer deaths through partnerships with Quad nations. He highlighted a $150 million commitment from the four countries to fund HPV screening and therapeutics. The initiative will also include U.S. Navy doctors and nurses training counterparts in the Indo-Pacific region in cervical cancer screening and vaccination efforts.
This latest incident has added to concerns about Biden’s mental sharpness, which has been called into question by critics and even some within his own party. Similar episodes of forgetfulness and confusion have occurred during his presidency, including a moment last year when he accidentally bumped into a flag at the United Nations and appeared to snub Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by leaving the stage without shaking hands.
Despite this, Biden continues to press forward with his foreign policy agenda, including this Quad summit and an upcoming meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where they are expected to discuss Ukraine’s “Plan for Victory” in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Biden will also deliver remarks before the UN General Assembly in Manhattan and is expected to attend future international meetings, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering in Peru and the G20 summit in Brazil.
With mounting pressure from within his party regarding his reelection bid, some Democrats have urged Biden to step aside for the 2024 election. Nonetheless, Biden remains focused on maintaining strategic alliances and furthering his policy initiatives as his time in the White House continues.
