A defiant President Joe Biden has suggested he will win the 2024 and keep attending NATO and international summits, despite dire approval ratings and mounting concerns about his age and health.
Biden, 80, spoke confidently about his electoral chances – despite trailing Donald Trump in recent polls – during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Lithuania on Tuesday,
It came hours after Turkey helped hand Biden and the powerful alliance a diplomatic win by getting behind Sweden’s bid to become the 32nd member, at a summit where Biden vowed to defend ‘every inch’ of NATO territory.
Erdogan thanked the US president for congratulating him after his own election – which went to a runoff that had some officials thinking of a less strenuous relationship with Turkey, after it used its strategic position to hold on to ties with Russia.
Turkish President Erdoğan: "Now you are getting prepared with the forth coming election and I would like to take the opportunity to wish you the very best of luck."
Biden: "I look forward to meeting with you the next five years." pic.twitter.com/9eaROE17Ab
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 11, 2023
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Biden smiled and thanked his counterpart, who has dominated politics in Turkey for decades.
‘Thank you. I look forward to being with you in the next five years, Mr. President,’ Biden said.
Erdogan had called his meeting with Biden a ‘step forward,’ and made reference to his own five-year term.
‘And with the forthcoming elections, I would like to take this opportunity to also wish you the best of luck,’ said Erdogan.
Donald Trump regularly attested to his bond with Erdogan when he was in the White House.
‘He’s a friend of mine, and I’m glad we didn’t have a problem because, frankly, he’s a hell of a leader, and he’s a tough man, he’s a strong man,’ Trump said in 2019.
The Turkish strongman was speaking on a day when he accomplished a key objective while letting go of his opposition to admitting Sweden – namely getting F-16 fighter aircraft from the U.S.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters in Vilnius Thursday Biden had previously ‘been clear that he supports the transfer’ of the jets.
‘He has placed no caveats on this … He intends to move forward with that transfer,’ he said.
Officials have been vague about additional details, and noted that the Greeks took part in a final meeting on the subject. Biden himself mentioned the jets in the context of bringing in Sweden in a recent CNN interview before heading to London for the start of his trip.
Biden was tight-lipped following his comments, barely flinching as U.S. reporters hurled a series of questions to him about the contours of the deal that will bring in Sweden, on Russia’s eastern flank. He kept his lips pursed as aides signaled the press event was over and escorted media members out of the room where they were meeting.
Lol, Biden thinks he has 5 more years!
— The Daily Common (@RealDailyCommon) July 11, 2023
He's a cadaver now….just look at this clown.
— Ultra Ultra Nuclear MAGADONIAN Patti the Patriot (@Patti55866878) July 11, 2023
Dream on, Joey Bribes
— Spectre (@HuntersCocaine) July 11, 2023
