President Joe Biden's gaffes before and during a press conference on Thursday, when he referred to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky as "President Putin," have sparked further criticism from celebrities amid ongoing pressure for the veteran politician to step down from his campaign for a second term in the White House.
Biden, the presumptive 2024 Democratic candidate, is expected to face off against Republican rival Donald Trump this November. However, the 81-year-old incumbent's shaky debate performance last month against Trump, 78, has raised further questions about his age and mental acuity.
During the televised clash hosted by CNN, a number of viewers stated that Biden sounded hoarse and lacked energy throughout the night. A Biden aide told Newsweek that the president was battling a cold at the time. Biden himself blamed his poor execution on failing to "listen" to his staff and instead, deciding "to travel around the world a couple of times" before the debate, telling supporters at a fundraiser in Virginia last week that he "almost fell asleep on stage."
While Biden delivered a more reassuring performance during his press conference in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, the president still made a major gaffe when he referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as "Vice President Trump." Before the press conference, Biden also accidentally referred to Zelensky as "President Putin," before correcting himself.
The blunders only served to intensify calls from both sides of the political aisle for Biden to ditch his reelection efforts ahead of November. Newsweek has contacted a representative of Biden via email for comment.
Country musician John Rich, who is an outspoken Republican and frequent critic of Biden, took to X, formerly Twitter, to highlight the president's Zelensky gaffe.
Sharing a video clip of the moment, Rich added the caption: "Biden confused Zelenskyy with PUTIN! Put a fork in him, he's done."
Rich, who previously opined that the debate was a "hit job by the Dems on Joe so they can replace him," appeared to reiterate that sentiment on Thursday.
"Joe messed up the Dem's plan tonight," he wrote. "He didn't suck quite bad enough..."
Conservative commentator Tomi Lahren, who is also a critic of Biden, was among those who weighed in on the president's press conference performance.
"If the Democrats think this presser is the reassurance they need Joe is good to go, then alrighty then. He's your guy! Good luck," the TV personality stated on X.
At the other end of the political spectrum, former REM singer Michael Stipe, who has publicly criticized Trump, shared a reaction of his own.
In an Instagram Story post, the musician shared a screenshot of Biden along with a message in which he pleaded for the politician to step down.
"President Biden, respectfully—Please step down," read the caption. "Pass the torch now, and help us as an advisor to your successor. Thank you."
There are now at least 17 Democratic members of Congress and senators who have asked Biden to end his 2024 campaign. Dozens more lawmakers are also expected to urge Biden to step aside in the coming days, reported CBS News citing unnamed sources.
Hollywood actor George Clooney penned a July 10 New York Times Op-Ed titled, "I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee." In it, the Oscar winner wrote that while he considers Biden "a friend" and does "believe in him," Democrats "are not going to win in November with this president."
The op-ed, which was supported by actor and director Rob Reiner, came just weeks after Clooney headlined a fundraiser for Biden's reelection campaign.
"We are not going to win in November with this president," Clooney wrote. "On top of that, we won't win the House, and we're going to lose the Senate. This isn't only my opinion; this is the opinion of every senator and congress member and governor that I've spoken with in private. Every single one, irrespective of what he or she is saying publicly."
The actor added that "one battle [Biden] cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can. It's devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe 'big F-ing deal' Biden of 2010. He wasn't even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate."
Clooney also called for new candidates to enter the race ahead of August's Democratic National Convention.
"Would it be messy? Yes. Democracy is messy," he wrote. "But would it enliven our party and wake up voters who, long before the June debate, had already checked out? It sure would.
"The short ramp to Election Day would be a benefit for us, not a danger. It would give us the chance to showcase the future without so much opposition research and negative campaigning that comes with these ridiculously long and expensive election seasons."
Earlier this week, Biden sent a letter to congressional Democrats in which he vowed to remain in the race.
"The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it's time for it to end," Biden stated. "I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump."
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