Biden’s Slip-Up, Trump’s Gain

136

June 20, 2023

Published in Die Presse
(Austria) on 17 June 2023
by Daniel Bischof (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Kirsty Low. Edited by Michelle Bisson.

The latest chapter in U.S. President Joe Biden’s mishap-filled history came on Friday. In his speech in Connecticut, the 80-year-old Democrat discussed the need for tougher gun control laws.

He closed by saying “God save the Queen!” to the audience. It is unclear why he said this and whether he was referring to the late British monarch Queen Elizabeth II. The cryptic clarification given by the White House, that Biden was commenting to someone in the crowd, was even more puzzling.

It is difficult to shrug off this episode as an amusing slip-up. Biden has gotten muddled and caused confusion too many times. Too many times, he has wobbled, stumbled and fallen to the ground. Yet he casually brushes aside claims that he is too old or not fit enough to be president. And evidently, even top Democrats have been unable to convince their president that this is the case.

Every Biden gaffe is a win for his opponents, not least Donald Trump.

Bidens Lapsus, Trumps Gewinn

Die an Hoppalas reiche Geschichte von US-Präsident Joe Biden ist seit Freitag um ein Kapitel reicher. Bei einem Vortrag in Connecticut sprach der 80-jährige Demokrat über die Verschärfung der Waffengesetze.

Zum Ende seiner Rede rief er ins Publikum: „God save the Queen!“. Warum er das gesagt und ob er sich auf die verstorbene britische Königin Elizabeth II. bezogen hat, ist unklar. Noch mehr Rätsel gab die Erklärung aus dem Weißen Haus auf: Biden habe jemanden in der Menge gemeint, hieß es kryptisch.

Die Episode als witzigen Lapsus abzutun ist schwer. Zu oft schon hat sich Biden verhaspelt und Verwirrung gestiftet; zu oft schon ist er geschwankt, gestolpert und zu Boden gestürzt. Doch dass er zu alt und nicht fit genug für das Präsidentenamt ist, diese Vorhalte wischt Biden lässig beiseite. Und offenbar gelingt es auch führenden Demokraten nicht, ihren Präsidenten davon zu überzeugen.

Dabei zahlt jeder Ausrutscher Bidens weiter auf das Konto seiner Widersacher ein, vor allem auf jenes von Donald Trump.

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