‘You don’t need to clap’

Retiring President Biden said Tuesday he is leaving office next month — telling an audience in Angola that “you don’t have to clap” — after stumbling and referring to the country as a “city.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, as you know, I am in the final weeks of my presidency. You don’t need to clap for that. You can do that if you want,” Biden, 82, said, speaking behind a rain-shrouded glass barrier.

The lame duck started his much-anticipated speech on an awkward note when he praised “Angola, a vibrant city” before attempting to explain away the mistake.

“Look, not the city,” he added. “I know, this city is not Angola. But in Angola, in a vibrant city.”

He similarly referred to President-elect Donald Trump’s first term as “eight years”, before he again caught himself and correctly said four.

Hours earlier, Biden was delicately escorted to the red carpet for a photo-op with Angolan President Joao Lourenco — his counterpart placing a hand on his back and leading the way, recalling similar instances where World leaders treated Biden as if he was confused and needed instruction like the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s guidance in June In a skydiving demonstration.

The White House dismissed coverage of earlier instances of Biden being confused at such events as misleading “cheap fake videos” that did not include important context – but led to fellow Democratic leaders rebelling and Biden leaving the party. That defense was refuted shortly after it was forced. The presidential nomination also led to what he considered his cognitive decline.

Biden read prepared remarks during his first visit to Africa as president, noting that the first slaves brought to the Virginia Colony in 1619 were from Angola and Washington and Luanda after the US supported a rebellion against the former Soviet Union. Now working together. -Supported government.

“The story of Angola and the United States is a lesson for the world: two nations with a shared history, the evil of human bondage, two nations on opposite sides of the Cold War… and now two nations standing shoulder to shoulder, together Working every day for the mutual benefit of our people,” Biden said.

“It is a reminder that no nation needs to be permanently opposed to another.”

Biden’s visit to oil-rich Angola is part of a broader US strategy to distance strategically important developing countries from Chinese influence through the “Belt and Road” initiative, which includes major projects in ports and roadways in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Investments are included.

Angola is from Africa second largest Crude oil exporters and Biden administration outreach include supporting a $2 billion solar energy project with the Export-Import Bank Ongoing A $900 million loan last year – also included a plan to build a $1 billion US-funded railway linking the Atlantic coast country to the Indian Ocean.