Joe Biden makes yet another gaffe, says will beat Donald Trump again in 2020

US President Joe Biden on Friday (local time) made yet another gaffe when he vowed to beat his Republican rival and former president Donald Trump “again in 2020” instead of saying 2024. He, however, corrected himself quickly and said he would do it “again in 2024”.

Biden’s latest slip of the tongue came amid concerns from a section of Democrats about the 81-year-old president’s ability to serve a second four-year-term after last week’s lacklustre performance at the first presidential debate with Trump. There have been calls for Biden to step aside given his health and age concerns.

However, Biden remained adamant during a campaign rally in Madison, Wisconsin, telling a cheering crowd that he was staying in the race. The presidential election is due to be held on November 5.

“You probably heard that I had a little debate last week. I can’t say it is my best performance. But ever since then, there’s been a lot of speculation. What’s Joe going to do? Is he going to stay in the race? Is he going to drop out? What are you going to do?” he said.

“Well, here’s my answer, I am running and I am going to win again,” the president said, with the crowd chanting ‘Let’s go, Joe’.

He also admitted that some people were pressurising him to withdraw from the race.

“I’m the nominee of the Democratic Party. You voted for me to be your nominee, and no one else. You, the voters, did that. And despite that, some folks don’t seem to care who you voted for. Well, guess what they are trying to push me out of the race,” he said.

“Well, let me say this as clearly as I can- I’m staying in the race. I’ll beat Donald Trump. I will beat him again in 2020,” the president said, before realising his mistake, adding, “I am going to do that again in 2024.”

Biden asserted he would not let a 90-minute debate wipe out his work done in the last three-and-a-half years.

Earlier on Thursday, the 81-year-old president tripped up when he described himself as the “first black woman to serve with a black president” as he continued to struggle to reassure voters he was still fit to lead again, The New York Post reported.

Biden made the gaffe when he was trying to describe having served as former President Barack Obama’s vice president and then choosing Kamala Harris as his deputy.

“By the way, I’m proud to be, as I said, the first vice president, first black woman, to serve with a black president,” he told host Andrea Lawful-Sanders of Philadelphia’s WURD black radio station.

On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre denied reports that Biden was planning to step aside from the race. “Absolutely not,” she said.

Her response came after The New York Times had reported that Biden had told a key ally that he knows he may not be able to salvage his candidacy if his next few public appearances do not go well. However, the ally emphasised that Biden is still deeply in the fight for re-election, the report stated.

During the presidential debate, Biden appeared to struggle with finishing sentences, seemed confused, and spoke in a hoarse voice, which aides attributed to a cold. However, the US President insisted that fatigue was the only issue and that there were “no indications of any serious condition”.

According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, one in three Democrats believe Biden should end his re-election bid following his poor performance at the presidential debate. However, no prominent elected Democrat does any better than Biden in a hypothetical matchup against Trump, the poll suggests.