President Joe Biden, who has chosen not to run for re-election, appeared unsettled during an event as he struggled to remember he was supposed to introduce India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
During a gathering at his Wilmington, Delaware residence, the 81-year-old president was captured on video in a tense moment, calling out to staff, “Who’s next?” as he introduced leaders from Australia, India, and Japan. These nations, along with the U.S., form the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, known as the Quad.
Following his remarks on the Quad’s collaborative efforts in the fight against cancer, Biden concluded by saying, “I want to thank you all for being here. And now, who am I introducing next?” After an awkward pause, he asked again sharply, “Who’s next?” An aide then directed him toward the stage, and a host formally introduced Indian Prime Minister Modi. Biden quickly recovered, making a light-hearted joke before warmly putting his arm around Modi.
Though Biden is known for occasional verbal gaffes, often attributed to his age, this incident was likely a simple logistical miscommunication rather than a sign of cognitive decline. The summit was part of Biden's “cancer moonshot” initiative, a plan to partner with Quad nations in the fight against cancer. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also attended the event.
The Quad, established in 2007, focuses on countering China’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific. The next Quad meeting will take place under the leadership of the future U.S. president, who will either be Kamala Harris or Donald Trump.
Biden’s decision to step down, announced in July, followed a challenging June debate with Trump where Biden struggled to maintain coherence, often losing his train of thought. As the oldest U.S. president, Biden has faced growing scrutiny over his public missteps and physical health, including a few falls while boarding Air Force One and an increasingly stiff gait.
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