President Joe Biden's recent speech in Arizona took an unexpected turn involving a familiar name.
During his address, Biden appeared to eulogize former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who is still alive, as reported by Mediaite.
The incident occurred while Biden was speaking about his commitment to addressing historical injustices faced by Native Americans.
Biden was in Arizona to apologize to Native Americans nationwide for the atrocities committed in boarding schools for Indian children. The president's speech included a heartfelt moment where he seemed to refer to Giffords in the past tense, causing confusion and concern among listeners.
Prior to his comments on Native American children, President Biden was introduced on stage by Gov. Stephen Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community. Biden thanked Lewis, introduced himself, and gave a shoutout to Sen. Mark Kelly, Gabby Giffords' husband.
President Biden's exact words about Kelly and Giffords raised eyebrows when he said:
It is an honor, a genuine honor to be in this special place on this special day. Thank you to Senator Mark Kelly, a great friend who also was married to an incredible woman who was my friend.
Gabby Giffords, a survivor of a horrific 2011 mass shooting near Tucson, resigned from the House of Representatives following the incident. Her recovery journey has been extensively documented, and she continues to be an influential voice in American politics.
This isn't the first instance where Biden has made such a mistake. In 2010, while serving as vice president, he mistakenly referred to the mother of Ireland's prime minister as deceased, asking for "God bless her soul" despite her being alive at the time.
The gaffe occurred during a significant moment when Biden was preparing to address Native American communities about historical injustices.
The main purpose of Biden's Arizona visit was to formally apologize for the U.S. government's treatment of Native American children in boarding schools. This historical apology addressed the forced relocation programs that operated for 150 years until the 1960s.
During these programs, hundreds of children lost their lives, while many others endured physical and sexual abuse in these institutions. Biden's apology marked a significant moment as he became the first U.S. president to officially acknowledge and apologize for these historical atrocities.
The ceremony was held at the Gila River Indian Community, where Governor Stephen Lewis introduced the president before his historic address.
The president's misstatement about Giffords briefly overshadowed what was intended to be a solemn occasion of historical significance. Despite the verbal slip, Biden proceeded to deliver his planned apology, which he described as "overdue." The day's events highlighted both the importance of acknowledging historical wrongs and the occasional communication challenges that can arise during such significant moments.
