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Joe Biden refers to Volodymyr Zelenskyy as 'President Putin' at Nato summit closing ceremony

Later tonight, Biden will appear in front of a poll of reporters for the first time since the disastrous TV debate.

JOE BIDEN ACCIDENTALLY referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “President Putin” when inviting him to speak at the closing ceremony of the Nato leaders summit in Washington D.C. this evening.

Seconds after making the mistake, the US President returned to the podium and said: “President Putin? We’re going to beat President Putin. I’m so focused on beating Putin we gotta worry about it. Anyway.”

The Ukrainian President steps to the podium and said “I’m better”, before continuing with his address to the summit.

Biden is already under the watchful eye of his party this evening as he prepares to hold a high-stakes press conference.

The 81-year-old is fighting to maintain his position as the Democratic Party candidate in November’s election and has been swatting away criticisms, including from his own party, that he is too old to run for a second term or that he won’t be capable to govern for a further four years.

The incumbent’s campaign spiralled into disarray after his performance in the first televised election debate with Donald Trump, which triggered panic among Democrats and calls for the sitting US president to pull out of the race.

Tonight will be the first time Biden has appeared in front of reporters since the debate and one of the first times in this year that he is set to face the public without reading from teleprompters.

Biden will be under close scrutiny to show he can handle a rare unscripted exchange with reporters.

Any further missteps this evening could turn the trickle of Democrats who have so far urged him to abandon his 2024 election bid into a flood.

In an interview last Friday night with ABC News, Biden refused to take a cognitive test and claimed that his job is a daily cognitive test. During the interview he blamed his meek debate performance on jetlag and a cold.

On Monday, he wrote to elected party members in Washington DC and doubled down, penning: “I wouldn’t be running if I did not absolutely believe I was the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024.”

Biden declined to step aside in his letter, adding that 87% of the Democratic Party had already supported his candidacy and his record as president so far proves that he is the contestant worthy of winning the election.

Yesterday, Democratic Party veteran Nancy Pelosi said that time is running out for US President Joe Biden to make a final decision on his reelection bid, but stressed the call was his to make.

Pelosi – the former speaker of the House of Representatives and an influential voice in the party – suggested the president still could step aside amid a Democratic divide over his candidacy.

Actor George Clooney also weighed into the debate about Biden’s staying in the race with an opinion piece in the New York Times yesterday, in which he argued the incumbent should drop out. 

“Was he tired? Yes. A cold? Maybe. But our party leaders need to stop telling us that 51 million people didn’t see what we just saw,” he wrote in his op-ed.

Around 14 Democratic members of the House of Representatives have also openly urged the man who beat Trump four years ago to drop out, along with one Democratic senator.

The press conference kicks off at 11.30pm Irish time (6:30 pm local time).

Contains reporting from © AFP 2024

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    Mute Paul A Kane
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    Jul 11th 2024, 11:24 PM

    Hahahaha someone put him to bed

    381
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    Mute P. V. Aglue
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    Jul 11th 2024, 11:34 PM

    @Paul A Kane: he’s Putin himself to bed

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    Mute Robert Clifford
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    Jul 12th 2024, 10:36 AM

    @Paul A Kane: Someone put him down

    9
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    Mute Gerard Carey
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    Jul 11th 2024, 11:24 PM

    Wrap her up Joe.
    Time to go.

    311
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    Mute Stephen Gaffney
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    Jul 11th 2024, 11:37 PM

    The great thing about Joe Biden is that he won’t remember all the disastrous decisions he’s made.

    238
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    Mute Joe Mc Dermott
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    Jul 12th 2024, 6:26 AM

    @Stephen Gaffney: he doesn’t make any, all his decisions are made for him

    106
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    Mute Robert M
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    Jul 11th 2024, 11:45 PM

    Game over. We like our world leaders to vaguely be able to string a sentence together. Is that too much to ask.

    180
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    Mute Andrew Kenny
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    Jul 11th 2024, 11:32 PM

    The man’s a liability.

    164
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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 11th 2024, 11:27 PM

    I’m sure Zelensky loved that.

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    Mute P. V. Aglue
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    Jul 11th 2024, 11:32 PM

    @Ger Whelan: it be funnier had he said Monica Zelenskyy

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    Mute Conrad Stapletwin
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    Jul 11th 2024, 11:43 PM

    He corrected himself immediately and even made a joke about it. Talk about a big fat nothing burger of a story.

    Meanwhile, Donald Trump has been heavily implicated in the Jeffrey Epstein files. That’s right, Jeffrey Epstein the sex offender who trafficked children for sexual abuse.
    Where’s the headline story about that?!

    203
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    Mute Mary.E.
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    Jul 12th 2024, 12:40 AM

    @Conrad Stapletwin:
    Maybe Prince Andrew could strike a deal,and let us know.

    66
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    Mute Oh Mammy
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    Jul 12th 2024, 1:08 AM

    @at least Andrew does not sweat:

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    Mute Jonn
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    Jul 12th 2024, 6:50 AM

    @Conrad Stapletwin:
    Is that Epstein any relation to the Epstein who ran a Mossad shakedown racket,and faked his own death?

    16
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    Mute Oisin Boyd
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    Jul 12th 2024, 7:39 AM

    @Conrad Stapletwin: So were the Clinton’s. And it won’t make a difference which of them is elected. Maybe Trump is a lot more ignorant. But the idea that it will make a difference and that the world can’t do better than this is a joke. Like Kang and Kodos from the Simpsons. The irony of stating its a democratic system when you MUST choose democrat or republican is a joke. It’s actually anti democratic.

    30
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    Mute Justin Mcnulty
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    Jul 12th 2024, 8:32 AM

    @Oisin Boyd: but Trump is a fascist and in case you haven’t noticed the Clinton’s are running d’oh

    8
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    Mute Oisin Boyd
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    Jul 12th 2024, 9:07 AM

    @Justin Mcnulty: And my point is that they are all fascists. If you think otherwise you’re brainwashed. No matter who gets in the poor remain poor, the health system and housing gets worse and countries still get bombed. Why do we even bother???? Its still all money and power and a game to these lot at the end of the day. I get your point of going for the lesser of two evils. But thats like saying I’d rather someone chopped my di** off than die

    14
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    Mute James T.Kirk
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    Jul 12th 2024, 10:20 AM

    @Oisin Boyd: Ah Mr.Holmes we meet again.

    1
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    Mute Oh Mammy
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    Jul 12th 2024, 1:11 AM

    Who is in control? It is a legitimate question. The far left deflect. But who is in control?

    91
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    Mute Dere
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    Jul 12th 2024, 10:04 AM

    @Oh Mammy: power remains in the shadows, always.

    9
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    Mute Mark Anthony Savage
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    Jul 11th 2024, 11:26 PM

    Oh my God, please Democrats. Is Michelle Obama doing anything? This guy is going to hand this to the Republicans and their orange ventriloquist dummy and this time it will be exponentially worse, they have done an impressive job of stacking the deck.

    125
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    Mute Shane Kinsella (Kinsey)
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    Jul 11th 2024, 11:48 PM

    @Mark Anthony Savage: the irony of calling Trump a ventriloquist dummy and then advocating for someone like Michelle Obama because …….

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    Mute Niall Murphy
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    Jul 12th 2024, 12:47 AM

    @Mark Anthony Savage: really? Obama? The bomber OBamas wife?

    Go for broke, go woke.

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    Mute sakk sa
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    Jul 11th 2024, 11:29 PM

    Dementia awareness

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    Mute sakk sa
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    Jul 11th 2024, 11:41 PM

    @sakk sa: Early signs and symptoms are:
    forgetting things or recent events
    losing or misplacing things
    getting lost when walking or driving
    being confused, even in familiar places
    losing track of time
    difficulties solving problems or making decisions
    problems following conversations or trouble finding words
    difficulties performing familiar tasks
    misjudging distances to objects visually

    62
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    Mute John Deane
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    Jul 11th 2024, 11:38 PM

    Am I the only one who thinks Joe Biden is showing early signs of Dementia?

    84
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    Mute Michael o Dwyer
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    Jul 11th 2024, 11:46 PM

    @John Deane: Yeah you are definitely the first person I heard say it anyway

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    Mute Robert M
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    Jul 12th 2024, 12:28 AM

    @John Deane: yeah you’re the absolute first person to make such an observation in recent times. Come on man!

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    Mute Marcus Maher - Triskellion Films
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    Jul 12th 2024, 6:21 AM

    @John Deane: keep up pal, have you not been paying attention, say the last 4 years, while you are at it you want to go and get yourself checked out for not seeing what the wife and the world are watching.

    22
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    Mute liam preston
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    Jul 11th 2024, 11:35 PM

    There’s no show without a Joe show.

    55
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    Mute DJ Bermo
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    Jul 12th 2024, 12:12 AM

    Ah lads!, will somebody please throw in the towel for him.

    69
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    Mute Niall Murphy
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    Jul 12th 2024, 12:52 AM

    @DJ Bermo: As my granpappy use to say ‘Don’t throw the towel in Joey, throw the sponge, i mean throw the soap, no eh the bucket, yeh the bucket he’d say throw the bucket while you’re drying the towel and eating the soap for the, for the eh, COVID and anyways we beat the socks off medicare ‘…….

    85
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    Mute did you every wonder
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    Jul 12th 2024, 6:16 AM

    Hope he doesn’t mix up the nukes code with his ATM code. Instead of getting a few dollars, he might launch a few. Seriously though, I’m not sure why Trump and himself just don’t retire. I’m not sure what they are trying to prove at their age. Let some younger ideas flow.

    42
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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 12th 2024, 8:21 AM

    @did you every wonder: because. Trump thinks he is still 30 and is untouchable . He’s the reason two police officers were killed by revving up his followers . He should be locked up.

    26
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    Mute Faejit Balloobas
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    Jul 12th 2024, 10:44 AM

    @did you every wonder: is simple for trump – he’s running to try and keep himself out of jail

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    Mute Nikki Swift
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    Jul 12th 2024, 2:45 AM

    I’m no genius but f me when ya cant rember the name of the man who is holding the world to ransom should ya really be in charge of the red button

    48
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    Mute Nikki Swift
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    Jul 12th 2024, 2:52 AM

    @Nikki Swift: he has to give up the goast and step down. but my god Americans are mad enough to vote for either of the

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    Mute qffaffaf affrafrfraf
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    Jul 12th 2024, 12:06 AM

    He’s great craic our Joe

    30
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    Mute Oh Mammy
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    Jul 12th 2024, 1:04 AM

    @qffaffaf affrafrfraf: I am glad you claim him…..

    16
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    Mute Oh Mammy
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    Jul 12th 2024, 1:27 AM

    The man is a disaster.

    41
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    Mute Matt Rogers
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    Jul 12th 2024, 1:41 AM

    Obama chose him as VPOTUS because he was ‘Harmless Sleepy Joe’… 16 years later he is ‘Catonic Joe’ who risks ushering a madman back into to the Whitehouse.

    34
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    Mute Phillip Smyth
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    Jul 12th 2024, 1:07 AM

    Mr Biden is doing ok in his press conference he is indeed Presidential material for sure he’s a good man.

    18
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    Mute Brian O'Connor
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    Jul 12th 2024, 12:24 AM

    Lol it’s a tactic … it’s a warning to Russia

    16
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    Mute Brian O'Connor
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    Jul 12th 2024, 12:29 AM

    @Brian O’Connor: lol as is saying President Putin of Ukraine … will never happen ! It’s a warning ⚠️

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    Mute Robert Halvey
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    Jul 12th 2024, 6:17 AM

    Iam concerned about president Joe’s age but the thought that the lying treacherous sex offender fraudster orange thing could become a president again is not acceptable

    33
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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 12th 2024, 8:48 AM

    @Robert Halvey: absolutely

    7
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    Mute Niall Murphy
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    Jul 12th 2024, 12:53 AM

    As my granpappy use to say ‘Don’t throw the towel in Joey, throw the sponge, i mean throw the soap, no eh the bucket, yeh the bucket he’d say throw the bucket while you’re drying the towel and eating the soap for the, for the eh, COVID and anyways we beat the socks off medicare ‘…….

    15
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    Mute Ian McDonald
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    Jul 12th 2024, 6:31 AM

    The Democrats should resign themselves to losing right now. But if they made the tough decision and swapped Joe out for Kamala Harris, suddenly they have a compelling candidate who should easily beat Trump

    12
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    Mute Jonn
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    Jul 12th 2024, 6:52 AM

    @Ian McDonald: Ah yes,good old Kamala,the woman who ‘blew’ away all opposition as she climbed the political ladder,let’s put her in charge!

    28
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    Mute Athena
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    Jul 12th 2024, 9:02 AM

    @Ian McDonald: In what way is she a compelling candidate?

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    Mute Ian McDonald
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    Jul 12th 2024, 9:49 AM

    @Athena: I left out ‘more’.

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    Mute Eamonn O'Hanrahan
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    Jul 12th 2024, 8:47 AM

    Jimmy Carter is still alive, surely he could run…

    9
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    Mute Brian O'Connor
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    Jul 12th 2024, 12:41 AM

    That’s a warning shot across the bow .. see what will Putin do now taking the decision to invade neighbouring country and killing innocent children ..

    12
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    Mute Dixie
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    Jul 12th 2024, 1:08 AM

    @Brian O’Connor: zelensky supports Israel who are doing much worse than Russia….make it make sense

    69
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    Mute Dominic Leleu
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    Jul 12th 2024, 8:48 AM

    Soon won’t be a problem for him. Trump will win the next one

    7
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    Mute Justin Mcnulty
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    Jul 12th 2024, 8:30 AM

    Both candidates are old but Trump is a fascist. How about focusing on that!

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    Mute Áine G
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    Jul 12th 2024, 5:55 AM

    His scary to say the least.

    6
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    Mute James T.Kirk
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    Jul 12th 2024, 10:18 AM

    He’s always Putin his foot in it.

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 12th 2024, 8:14 AM

    This is just the worst thing that could be happening does this trump et mouth will get his seat at the white house or will there be a new candidate In the running.

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    Mute Michael Holland
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    Jul 13th 2024, 8:18 AM

    They were hiding and covering for his gaffs for years but now everyone is calling it out as there is an agenda to replace him, some how..

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    Mute Paddy C
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    Jul 13th 2024, 12:50 AM

    To be fair he could have been exhausted and half asleep murmering like eamon was in the dail after clocking in happens to the best of us just not the salaries they earn for it tho.

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    Mute John Smith
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    Jul 12th 2024, 11:56 PM

    Zelenskyy doesn’t care what Joe calls him as long as he keeps handing over those big fat cheques.

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