Joe Biden’s bumbling performance throughout his trip to Asia has drawn ridicule from the international press, and worries that he is projecting weakness on the world stage. Biden departed the White House on Thursday for a global junket to attend key meetings in Asia, and eventually Europe.
Biden on Saturday attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to “elevate U.S.-ASEAN relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” according to the White House.
The ASEAN Summit in Cambodia gathered leaders with major Indo-Pacific powers, including India, Australia, Japan, South Korea, China and the United States.
Biden got off to a horrendous start by referring to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as the “prime minister of Colombia” while thanking him for hosting the ASEAN summit.
Biden, in remarks at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, thanks "the prime minister for Colombia" for his "leadership as ASEAN chair."
The ASEAN chair is the prime minister of Cambodia. pic.twitter.com/1vJDGP9ljI
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 12, 2022
• “Joe Biden Kicks Off ASEAN Summit by Getting Host Country Wrong,” a Newsweek headline read.
• “NOT AGAIN, JOE! Joe Biden refers to Cambodia as Colombia in front of Cambodian PM, just weeks after Rishi Sunak blunder,” the UK Sun headline blared.
This comes weeks after Biden was mocked for stumbling over Rishi Sunak’s name in a speech praising the new PM’s appointment as a “groundbreaking moment”.
The 79-year-old said: “Just today, we’ve got news that ‘Rashid Sanook’ is now the prime minister.
• “Biden in new gaffe as US leader mistakenly thanks Colombia instead of Cambodia,” said the UK Express.
“Joe Biden’s presidency has been dogged by persistent mistakes during official speeches, with his detractors questioning his ability to lead,” the UK Express’ subhead read.
• “Joe Biden Thanks Columbia Instead Of Cambodia At ASEAN Summit,” reported India’s Zee News.
“American President Joe Biden made a big mistake at the ASEAN Summit,” Zee News reported.
• Money Control, another Indian paper, also made note of the gaffe with the headline: Joe Biden calls Cambodia ‘Columbia’ in new gaffe during ASEAN Summit.
• “Joe Biden’s ‘pathetically bad’ gaffe from ASEAN summit roasted online,” Sky News reported, noting that it was second time this week Biden had referred to the south-east Asian country as Colombia.
On Thursday, as he departed for the summit, Biden told reporters that he was “heading over to Colombia,” before correcting himself.
Biden also projected weakness and confusion during the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, Monday.
During a question and answer period after reading his remarks, Biden sheepishly admitted that his handlers were limiting the number of questions he could take. “I’m happy to take questions and I’m told there will be four questioners,” he said.
BIDEN: “I’m happy to take questions and I’m told there will be four questioners" pic.twitter.com/xvb9rZerq6
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 14, 2022
He appeared to have great difficulty reading from the list.
BIDEN: "Um…. uh…. I ca—having trouble reading this…" pic.twitter.com/FaKVTU7neI
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 14, 2022
Monday morning, Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, after expressing a “genuine willingness to work together in areas where US and [Chinese] interests converge and where it’s in the interest of the broader public good as well, whether it be climate change or public health or other issues.”
Ahead of the meeting Biden said, “the United States…does not seek confrontation; wants to make sure that we manage that competition responsibly…”
U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in Bali, Indonesia https://t.co/JjfNkP9cr8 📷 Kevin Lamarque pic.twitter.com/pJUE7zyqy7
— Reuters Pictures (@reuterspictures) November 14, 2022
“I don’t know who needs to hear this but Joe Biden meeting with Xi today could very well be the beginning of World War 3,” tweeted conservative talk show host Jesse Kelly. “These meetings are important. Xi will be sizing him up the whole time. What do you think he’s gonna see?”
Sen. Ron Johnson, who was slated to chair the powerful Senate Subcommittee on Investigations, told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on Sunday: “My feeling is that Joe Biden is highly compromised.”
Sen. Ron Johnson: "My feeling is that Joe Biden is highly compromised." pic.twitter.com/F9zHyRtPSF
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) November 13, 2022