NATO summit - Biden's combative speech: "Ukraine can and will stop Putin"
No jokers, instead a powerful speech: US-President Joe Biden delivered his address at a NATO anniversary event in Washington – no gaffes. Every step of Biden's was scrutinized in the debate about the physical fitness of the 81-year-old. After his NATO speech, Biden could have breathed a sigh of relief. Different from his TV debate fiasco two weeks ago against his Republican challenger Donald Trump, Biden didn't lose his thread.
Biden reads from the teleprompter
This was mainly due to a loyal helper of Biden's: the teleprompter. Biden, as usual at such events, read the entire speech from the prompt. Even when he thanked NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on stage for his performance, he looked at him most of the time not directly but read the text. Biden awarded Stoltenberg the Presidential Freedom Medal, one of the highest civilian awards. The draping of the medal went smoothly without a hitch. Biden spoke – unlike in the TV debate – forcefully and much clearer.
NATO press conference: The toughest test is yet to come
The biggest blunders Biden usually avoids when reading from the teleprompter. However, it will be challenging for the 81-year-old when he speaks freely. Then, he regularly confuses names and places, finishes sentences and thoughts incomplete, and is sometimes hard to understand. Therefore, the real test for the US President still lies ahead: He will give a press conference at the end of the NATO summit on Thursday. There, he will have to react spontaneously – the teleprompter won't be able to help him.
- At the NATO summit in Washington, Joe Biden delivered a powerful speech, free of any gaffes, emphasizing the alliance's importance in the world.
- The teleprompter proved to be Biden's faithful ally during his address, ensuring he didn't stumble over his words or lose his train of thought.
- After presenting NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg with the Presidential Freedom Medal, Biden thanked him through the teleprompter, maintaining eye contact with Stoltenberg.
- Headlines across the world celebrated Biden's successful speech at the NATO summit, with many articles focusing on his improved clarity and competence compared to recent televised debates.
- As the NATO summit draws to a close, Joe Biden faces his next challenge: a press conference on Thursday where he'll have to speak off-script and answer questions without the aid of a teleprompter.
- Amidst top news about Ukraine and international security, the US President's ability to navigate a press conference without relying on the teleprompter will be a crucial test of his leadership and communication skills.
