President Joe Biden made a mistake during his State of the Union address amid the crisis in Ukraine, confusing the nation facing invasion with Iran.
Biden, at 79 years old, is the oldest person to be elected to the US presidency. He was speaking about the ongoing Russian invasion when he made an error.
‘Putin may circle Kiev with tanks, but he’ll never gain the hearts and souls of the Iranian people,’ Biden said.
After he has finished saying “Iranian,” Vice President Kamala Harris can see behind Biden speaking the correct word, “Ukrainian.”
LMFAO Kamala appears to mouth “Ukrainian” when Joe Biden said Iranian.
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 2, 2022
pic.twitter.com/E28NEmiPOv
Reactions on social media were intense, with “Iranians” trending immediately after the speech.
Florida Representative Matt Gaetz wrote that everyone must have thought it was from a popular conservative satire site: ‘BREAKING: Biden announces unconventional plan to win the hearts and souls of Iranian people in Kyiv…Not from @TheBabylonBee.’
Former Trump advisor Sebastian Gorka wrote: ‘Biden just said ‘Kiev and the Iranian people’ and added ‘#SenilePresident.’
Another user added: ‘Biden: ‘Putin will never gain the hearts and minds of the Iranian people!’ What the hell is he talking about ?!’
Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin “has no idea what’s ahead” as he opened the State of the Union Address. He accused the Russian leader of underestimating western allies and the Ukrainian people and announced the closing of U.S. airspace to all Russian flights.
‘Six days ago, Russia’s Vladimir Putin sought to shake the very foundation of the free world, thinking he could make it bend to his menacing ways. But he badly miscalculated,’ Biden stated with Vice President Kamala Harris sitting behind his right shoulder and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on his left.
‘He thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world would roll over,’ Biden continued of Putin. ‘Instead, he [was] met with a wall of strength he never anticipated or expected – he met the Ukrainian people.’
Biden spoke for 12 minutes about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during his address to Congress. He also addressed the U.S. response.
Biden said, “He doesn’t know what’s coming,” in a deviation from the script sent ahead of the remarks.
These remarks were made as Kyiv was rocked by new blasts Tuesday night after Russia was called ‘barbaric” for bombing a TV Tower near the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial in Ukraine’s capital. This memorial is the site of one the largest single massacres of Jews during World War II.
‘We in the United States of America stand with the Ukrainian people. Throughout our history, we’ve learned this lesson – When dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos, they keep moving.’
Several lawmakers showed their solidarity with Ukraine by wearing the colors of their flag – blue and yellow – while others wore brightly colored pins and scarfs as Ukraine continues to face a full-scale attack from Russia.
‘Putin is now isolated from the world more than he has ever been,’ the president added.
The Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova attended as a guest to first lady Jill Biden and received a several-second standing ovation from members of Congress and all others in attendance.
‘She’s bright, she’s strong, she’s resolved,’ Biden said in the midst of the clapping.
Many in the first lady’s visitor box were wielding mini Ukrainian flags.
The White House stated: ‘In a sign of support for the Ukrainian people, the FLOTUS has an embroidered appliqué of a sunflower, the national flower of Ukraine, sewn to the sleeve of her dress near her wrist.’
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused the deaths of more than 2,000 civilians, according to Kyiv’s emergency service, and hundreds of thousands have fled the country.
