by A.P.
Joe Biden seemed to forget the defense secretary’s name and even his job title
Joe Biden seemed to forget the defense secretary’s name and even his job title in a speech yesterday – calling Lloyd Austin the ‘guy who runs that outfit over there.’
The president was announcing two women were to be promoted to elite, four-star general commands at a ceremony at the White House on International Women’s Day.
‘I want to thank Sec-, the former general, I keep calling him “General.” My – the guy who runs that outfit over there,’ Biden said, before quickly adding, ‘I want to make sure we thank the secretary for all he’s done.’
The 78-year-old self-confessed ‘gaffe machine’ has made verbal fumbles a hallmark of his career but there is growing disquiet over why Biden still hasn’t held a press conference – no president in the last century has gone this long without taking questions from reporters.