Former President Joe Biden sparked headlines Friday afternoon after stumbling over the word ‘America’ during remarks criticizing the Trump administration at an LGBTQ rights forum in Washington, DC.
The visibly aging 83-year-old Democrat stumbled badly over the nation’s name during a charged moment in his keynote address — an instant that stopped the room cold.
"I still believe that emerging from the many crises caused by this administration, as we have constantly, none the less, come out stronger, wiser, and more resilient — but we just have to get up," Biden said, repeatedly tripping over his words throughout his nearly 20-minute address.
Former President Joe Biden, 83, stumbled badly over the word ‘America’ during a speech Friday afternoon, turning a routine moment into an instantly memorable slip. Benny Johnson, /X
“As long as we keep the faith, some hope and get back up and remember who in the hell we are — we are the United States of Amerigotit,” he fumbled, before continuing, “That’s who we are. We are the US.”
At the event hosted by the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, Biden was presented with the Chris Abele Impact Award — a tribute to what organizers hailed as one of the most inclusive administrations in U.S. history.
He delivered the remarks Friday at an event hosted by the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute in Washington, DC. Benny Johnson, /X
During his remarks, the aging former president — long known for his stutter — took aim at "MAGA Republicans," accusing them of trying to "distort and derail our fight for equality" and charging that the Trump administration had turned LGBTQ rights into something "scary" and "sinister."
Biden’s embarrassing slip comes at a time when his age and health had already become flashpoints in the political debate during his final year in office.
He came under intense scrutiny over his cognitive abilities after a disastrous debate performance against President Trump in June 2024 — a stumble that ultimately led him to withdraw from the race the following month.
Biden’s embarrassing gaffe comes as questions about his age and health have already dominated political debates during his final year in office. SplashNews.com
Earlier that year, Biden’s longtime physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, had declared him "fit to serve" following a routine physical in February, when he was the presumptive Democratic nominee.
In May, the 46th president revealed that he had been diagnosed with an "aggressive" form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.
During a medical exam, doctors discovered a "small nodule" on Biden’s prostate along with other cancerous cells — a Stage 4 diagnosis that appeared to have been missed by his White House medical team.
In May, the 46th president revealed that he had been diagnosed with an "aggressive" form of prostate cancer. Fred Karger via REUTERS
The GOP-led House Oversight Committee is probing whether Biden’s mental fitness and his use of an autopen were intentionally concealed by his closest aides.
Since leaving the White House in January, Biden has largely stayed out of the spotlight, appearing mostly for medical updates and a handful of public events.
