President Joe Biden did himself no favors when he called a hasty press conference the evening after Robert Hur’s report went public and, while declining to recommend criminal prosecution, rested the decision largely on Biden’s age and failing mental faculties. While the conference itself was wobbly, his return to the podium at the end to emphasize he was still totally with it, only to then confuse Egypt with Mexico, drove home the fact that Hur’s assessment was well-founded.
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Well, he’s back making geographical missteps again. On Friday, as he delivered brief remarks to the press while meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, he announced (while reading from notecards, no less) that the U.S. would be providing air drops of food and supplies…into Ukraine.
Biden announces the U.S. is “providing air drops of additional food and supplies” into Ukraine pic.twitter.com/ZZt7LV1EMg
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 1, 2024
Wait…what?
Obviously, that statement caught the attention of the press, who followed up with White House National Security Communications Advisor during Friday’s White House briefing.
REPORTER: “When the president said we were airdropping to Ukraine twice, he meant Gaza, correct? He misspoke?”
KIRBY: “He was referring to Gaza.” pic.twitter.com/1aOXfei6U6
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 1, 2024
As noted in the above video, a (seemingly understanding) reporter asked Kirby: “When the president said we were airdropping to Ukraine — twice — he meant Gaza, correct? He just misspoke?”
To which Kirby replied in somewhat terse fashion, “He was referring to Gaza.”
I have a confession: There’s something about John Kirby I find quasi-likable. Yes, he’s part of an administration that daily exasperates — and often aggravates — me, and he stands at the podium and issues White House spin. But you still get the sense with Kirby of a certain level of sincerity — one notably absent with, for instance, Karine Jean-Pierre.
So, I found Kirby’s body language in that brief clip particularly interesting. He remained steadfastly focused on the papers in front of him, very precisely stacking and folding them. He appeared to be steeling himself as the question was presented and then, with a hint of weary resignation, confirmed that the president had, indeed, misspoken. (Again.) I just get the sense there are times when Kirby seriously questions his life/career choices.
That said, I’d suggest that someone get Joe a map — but if he struggles with the country name while reading it off his prepared notecards, I’m not sure how much that would actually help.
