Joe Biden confuses Indian anthem with US anthem

Joe Biden greets Narendra Modi at the White House. Photo: KEVIN LAMARK/REUTERS

Joe Biden has apparently mistook the Indian national anthem for the anthem of India. The star-studded banner in his latest gaffe.

When he welcomed Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, to the White House, the two leaders stood on the dais to sing their national anthems. military band.

The announcer loudly announced that the Indian anthem would come first, followed by the US anthem.

However, as the Indian anthem Jana Gana Mana began, Mr. Biden put his hand on heart. It took the 80-year-old commander-in-chief about 10 seconds to realize that he was not listening to his national anthem.

Beside him, Modi was reciting the words of the Indian anthem, which is unlike the American one.

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, stands next to Joe Biden at the White House for their national anthems Photo: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP

Then Biden slowly and awkwardly began to lower his hand, which took about three seconds.

When the US anthem played, he put his hand back on his heart and kept it there throughout the speech.

Republicans on social media called Biden a «disgrace.»

Alec Sears, a Republican digital strategist, said, «That would be so funny if it wasn't so sad.»

That was the last in a series of missteps by Biden, as his age looks set to be a major issue in the 2024 election.

Earlier this week, he caused a diplomatic furor when he called Xi Jinping a «dictator.»

He made an impromptu comment the day after Anthony Blinken, state secretary, met with the Chinese leader in an effort to improve relations between Washington and Beijing.