Biden confuses Macron with dead French president, Francois Mitterand, who died in 1996

The 81-year-old US leader confused his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron with France’s long-dead former leader Francois Mitterand, who died in 1996

As well as getting Macron’s name wrong, he misstated the country he leads, referring to France as Germany

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U.S. President Joe Biden meets with French President Emmanuel Macron in the Oval Office. On Monday, the 81-year US leader confused his French counterpart for Francois Mitterand, who died in 1996. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:08pm, 6 Feb 2024Updated: 10:10pm, 6 Feb 2024

US President Joe Biden confused his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron with France’s long-dead former leader Francois Mitterand, in a speech that went viral in video footage on Monday.

Addressing a campaign event in Las Vegas on Sunday, the 81-year-old US leader described Macron’s reaction to a speech at a G7 meeting in 2020.

As well as getting Macron’s name wrong, he misstated the country he leads.

“And Mitterrand – Macron, from Germany – I mean, from France looked at me and said, said ‘You know, what – why – how long you back for?’” Biden said, according to a White House transcript.

US President Joe Biden confused current French president Emmanuel Macron for Francois Mitterand. Mitterrand was French president from 1981 to 1995, and died in 1996. Photo: AP

Mitterrand was French president from 1981 to 1995, and died in 1996.

Video of Biden’s mix-up has been viewed thousands of times on X, formerly Twitter, and shared hundreds of times.