The chair of the Democratic National Committee has insisted President Biden “put on a masterclass” during his closely-watched press conference Thursday night — despite him mixing up Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
Jaime Harrison gave the glowing review soon after the embattled 81-year-old president wrapped his error-laden “big boy press conference” at the end of the annual NATO summit in Washington DC.
“Listen, I think he was clear,” the DNC chair claimed during an MSNBC appearance. “I think he was strong.”
“He put on a masterclass in terms of complex international foreign policy tonight,” Harrison continued.
“You know, and the contrast is so clear. You could give Donald Trump a blank map and, ‘Say fill it in,’ and he would fail. Horribly. He wouldn’t have any clue where most of these countries were.”
Seperately, a White House spokesperson had heaped similar praise on Biden — even as the press conference was still unfolding.
“To answer the question on everyone’s minds: No, Joe Biden does not have a doctorate in foreign affairs,” Andrew Bates, the White House senior deputy press secretary, posted on X.
“He’s just that f–king good.”
The defense of Biden came despite the president’s performance being hit with mixed reviews.
While the press conference was set up to dispel mounting Democratic clamor for Biden to give up his re-election campaign after his disastrous June 27 debate, the commander-in-chief ended up compounding concerns by making contradictory remarks, forgetting questions and giving rambling answers on stage.
At one point, Biden confused Harris and Trump — prompting gasps and groans from the scores of journalists seated in the room.
“Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president if I think she’s not qualified to be president,” Biden said.
The gaffe came after Biden had earlier introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin” at a separate event — confusing him with the Russian tyrant whose forces have waged war on his nation for two-and-a-half years.
Harrison, on his part, was immediately ripped on social media for blindly defending Biden’s press conference performance — with one raging that the president “sounded like a bumbling fool.”
“DNC Chair Jaime Harrison says Biden forgetting the name of his own vice president is ‘nitpicking’,” the RNC Research account tweeted.
Another user chimed in: “Lol Jaime Harrison calling Biden’s press conference a ‘masterclass’ on MSNBC. I know it’s your job, man, but have some f–king shame…”
Still, elsewhere in his MSNBC interview, Harrison doubled down on his defense of Biden as he lashed out at fellow Democrats who have called on him to step aside.
“And so, Democrats, we’ve got to stop the handwringing. We got to stop the ‘woe is me,’ and understand our guy is much better – leagues better – than the other side,” the DNC chair said.
“And he has delivered in the past and he will deliver again. Let’s focus our energy going after Trump and Project 2025 because of what threats that they make to the American people.”