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Joe Biden forgets defense secretary's name and calls him 'guy who runs that outfit', Internet finds it 'scary'

Biden said 'I want to thank the Sec... the former general. I keep calling him general" and "the guy who runs that outfit over there'

President Joe Biden has often been on the receiving end when it comes to flak about his alertness and being sharp. On the campaign trail, he made several gaffes, from failing to recall where he was to forgetting his mask. Now, it appears he temporarily forgot the name of his Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin. At an event marking International Woman's Day, Biden said "I want to thank the Sec... the former general. I keep calling him general" and "the guy who runs that outfit over there". 

The remarks aren't exactly comforting, as many social media users noted. Some were quick to point out how the media had created a storm over Trump's gaffes but ignored Biden's. Irrespective of your political stance, it's not a comforting notion to realize the president doesn't remember the name of the Pentagon. 

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The event at the White House saw Biden nominate for appointment two female generals to 4-star combat commanders-Air Force Gen Jacqueline Van Ovost and Army Lt Gen Laura Richardson. In 2016, General Lori Robinson made history when she became the first woman to lead a combat command - the US Northern Command (NORTHCOM). Now Biden has nominated Van Ovost to head the US Transportation Command and Richardson to head US Southern Command. The nominations now head to the Senate for confirmation.

Biden's gaffes aren't new

The latest gaffe by the president is just one in his long line of memory losses. In May 2020, he notably forgot who America's health experts are. In a virtual roundtable with governors, Biden was caught saying "Everyday I have between an hour and an hour and a half brief with... uh... the former head... former Surgeon General. Anyway with docs across the country." 

In October 2020, Biden referred to Trump as George at a virtual concert. "Four more years of George, er, George, er, he - we're going to find ourselves in a position where, if Trump gets elected, we're going to be in a different world," he said. In February 2021, after holding a press briefing over the pandemic, Biden forgot to put on his mask and walked away from the podium, before Vice President Kamala Harris reminded him. 

His memory woes go back even further. Way back in 2017, when Biden was the vice president under Barack Obama, he awkwardly said the year was 2007 when announcing the 34 newly-elected Senators. 

Is Biden losing it? Twitter seems to think so.

Internet says 'we're so screwed'

Video footage of the event has been circulating on Twitter, with many criticizing and worrying about what Biden's gaffes could lead to. One user tweeted ""That guy who runs that outfit over there." -- Joe Biden Translation: "That Guy" = Secretary of Defense "That outfit over there" = The Pentagon (we're so screwed)". Others were quick to slam the president for his gaffe. One user said, "How in the hell did Biden forget the name for the Pentagon and his Secretary of Defense????? Come on man, this isn't funny anymore! Worst "President" ever in our history". Another said "We are in trouble! He can’t even remember The name of the Secretary of Defense!! The guy that runs that thing over there!!" "Or the Pentagon. It’s really not funny though. It’s sad and scary" said another user. 

Another commented "Joe Biden couldn’t remember the name of his Secretary of Defense at a White House event today. Pathetic." Yet another user posted "forgetting the name of yr own secretary of defense is not a good look for the leader of the so-called free world". Another user took it as a sign, tweeting, "It’s not his stutter....he clearly forgets his Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin’s name. The man is deteriorating by the day. Kamala should start warming up."

A few others also came to Biden's defense. One user tweeted "My husband stutters. When a stutterer can tell they’re going to struggle to get a word out, they often will talk their way around it. “Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin” is a name filled with sounds that are difficult for many stutterers. Can we PLEASE not do this ableist shit?"