President Joe Biden experienced an awkward moment during a hurricane recovery briefing at the White House. The incident involved a slip of the tongue and an interruption from a Cabinet member.
According to Fox News, Biden mistakenly referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as "president" during the briefing. This occurred after Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm interrupted him, seemingly to remind him to allow Harris to speak.
The briefing in the Roosevelt Room focused on the federal government's response to recent hurricanes that have caused significant damage in several states. Biden was updating reporters on power restoration efforts and debris removal following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
During his address, Biden emphasized the administration's priorities in the aftermath of the storms. He mentioned that he had spoken with numerous officials from affected states, including North Carolina and Florida. The President also shared that experts estimate Hurricane Milton alone caused $50 billion in damage.
Biden reassured those affected by the hurricanes, stating, "We're going to do everything we can to help you pick back up the pieces and get back to where you were." He highlighted the involvement of various federal agencies in rescue and recovery efforts, including FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Army Corps.
The President also took a moment to criticize what he termed as "disgusting" claims circulating online that suggested an inadequate federal response to the hurricanes.
As Biden appeared to be wrapping up his remarks, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm touched his arm, seemingly to remind him to turn the microphone over to Vice President Harris. This interruption led to a somewhat awkward exchange.
Biden responded to Granholm's gesture by saying, "I know. I'm going to go to the vice president in a second." He then joked with reporters, referring to Granholm: "She's my boss here." The President then addressed Harris, who seemed to interject, saying, "Hang on a second, Madame Vice President."
Before handing over the briefing to Harris, Biden mentioned the need for additional funding from Congress for recovery efforts. It was at this point that he made the verbal slip:
We're going to need a lot of help. We need a lot more money. So I'm just telling everybody now that I don't want to hear this is going to be the end of it. So with that, I will yield to the president, I mean, the vice president.
This is not the first time Biden has referred to Harris as "president" during public appearances, a fact that has been noted by media outlets and political observers.
Speaking via teleconference, Vice President Harris took the opportunity to highlight her involvement in the hurricane response efforts. She mentioned her communication with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas regarding measures to prevent price-gouging in the aftermath of the disaster.
Harris highlighted the administration's dedication to supporting impacted communities, assuring that she and President Biden will ensure these communities receive the necessary resources to respond to the storm and recover afterward.
While the hurricane briefing primarily focused on critical recovery efforts, it was overshadowed by verbal slip-ups and awkward interactions. These incidents have once again brought attention to President Biden's public speaking challenges and the dynamics within his administration.
