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'Joe Hiden': Trump gives Biden new nickname, mocks him for reading wrong off teleprompter in interview blunder

Trump has accused Biden of 'hiding' in his basement during the campaign trail and has often questioned the former VP's mental acuity

President Donald J. Trump has unveiled a new nickname for his 2020 Democratic challenger Joe Biden, calling him 'Joe Hiden' in a flurry of tweets Wednesday.

It came after Trump accused Biden, 77, of 'hiding' the basement of his Delaware residence on the campaign trail. In contrast, the 74-year-old president is known for his frequent travel and campaigning events -- even amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Can you believe what’s happening!?” Trump tweeted Wednesday while sharing a link to a Breitbart article. “They give Joe Hiden’ the questions, and he reads them an answer!”

The story alleged that Biden was reading notes from a teleprompter as he answered questions in an interview set to air Sunday with NBC 6 anchor Jackie Nespral. Biden reportedly discussed Latin American diplomacy and slammed Trump's policy on Venezuela, before reading the "topline message."

“I understand that Cuba along with Russia and China has contributed to the political impasse in Venezuela as well. What’s the president doing? Look, Venezuela topline message is President Trump’s policy is an abject failure,” Biden said.

Trump has repeatedly attacked the former vice president of spending the majority of his campaign at his Delaware home amid the pandemic. According to Trump and his supporters, Biden is "hiding" in his basement while the "radical left" wing of the Democratic party is making his decisions for him. “Somebody like Biden, he doesn’t know what to do,” Trump told Fox & Friends last month. “He doesn’t come out because he can’t. He doesn’t take any questions from reporters. ... This guy doesn’t come out of his basement, and he hasn’t taken one question."

Last weekend, Biden made a campaign stop in Pittsburg despite initially saying he wouldn't resume the campaign trail until after Labor Day. “Joe Biden is coming out of the basement earlier than his hoped for ten days because his people told him he has no choice, his poll numbers are PLUNGING!” Trump tweeted Sunday. “Going to Pittsburgh, where I have helped industry to a record last year, & then back to his  basement for an extended period…”

In another tweet, the president referenced Rep. Joe Kennedy III's primary loss against Sen. Ed Markey in Massachusetts on Tuesday. It's worth noting that Kennedy had been perceived as the Democratic old guard's selection, while Markey won the support of influential freshman congresswoman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. 

"When a Kennedy loses a Democrat Primary in Massachusetts, by a lot, it just shows how far LEFT that party has gone. Joe Hiden’ will never be able to hold them back. Life, 2nd A, Energy, Religion, Jobs, and the Economy would be totally obliterated!" Trump tweeted.

Trump added novel flavor in another tweet, using emoticons as he patted himself on the back for the stock market's recent gains. The Dow Jones once again broke 29,000 points on Wednesday and edged closer to its record high on February 12 this year.

"The Dow Jones Industrial just closed above 29,000! You are so lucky to have me as your President," Trump tweeted, adding a winking emoticon. "With Joe Hiden’ it would crash," he continued, adding a worried emoticon.

Biden reportedly had no public events scheduled on Monday. His campaign called a press 'lid' at 9 am, indicating that there were no events or announcements slated for the day. On Tuesday, however, Biden held a campaign event in Wilmington, Delaware to discuss how to safely reopen schools amid the pandemic.