Jill Biden Introduces Kamala Harris as “The President of the United States” at Black History Month Event; Biden Mangles Multiple Names

On 2/28/2022, First Lady Jill Biden introduced Vice President Kamala Harris as “the President of the United States” during the White House’s first in-person Black History Month celebration, quickly correcting herself with a laugh. President Biden then struggled to pronounce his own Supreme Court nominee’s name, referred to his UN Ambassador as “Linda Greenhouse” instead of Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and accused Republicans of trying to “keep the Black vote from even counting."

"The President of the United — the Vice President”

Jill Biden’s introduction of Kamala Harris produced the event’s most memorable moment. “Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the Un— the Vice President of the Un—” Jill said, breaking into laughter. “I just said that to make you laugh. The Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris.”

The slip was the latest in a series of instances where Biden administration figures had accidentally promoted Harris to the presidency. President Biden himself had referred to Harris as “President Harris” on multiple prior occasions, fueling ongoing speculation about the power dynamics between the two.

Biden Stumbles Over His Own Nominee’s Name

Biden struggled to correctly say the name of his own Supreme Court nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson. “And of course, we see another first in the nomination of Katanji— well, you saw her. I guess you saw Justice Brown. Justice Brown Jackson, who is on the Circuit Court of Appeals right now,” Biden said, cycling through multiple incorrect versions of her name and title.

The fumble was notable given that the nomination was one of the most significant announcements of Biden’s presidency — the fulfillment of his campaign pledge to nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court.

”Linda Greenhouse” Instead of Thomas-Greenfield

Biden also mangled the name of his own UN Ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield. “The General Assembly of the United Nations, Linda Greenhouse — Thomas-Greenfield. Linda,” Biden said. Linda Greenhouse is a longtime New York Times Supreme Court correspondent — not a Biden appointee.

”Keep the Black Vote From Even Counting”

Biden made an accusation about Republican voting policies. “It’s always made it harder for Blacks to vote, but this is trying to be able to figure out how to keep the Black vote — when it occurs — from even counting,” Biden said.

The claim went beyond the already-debated assertion that Republican voting laws made it harder to vote. Biden was suggesting Republicans were attempting to invalidate Black votes after they were cast — a more serious allegation.

Harris on Elections and Orders

Harris spoke about the significance of the 2020 election and the administration’s equity agenda. “Because, as we all know, elections matter. And when folks vote, they order what they want, and in this case, they got what they asked for,” Harris said. “I went off script a little bit.”

She also praised the SCOTUS nominee: “Judge Jackson, of course, will make a phenomenal justice.”

Biden: “I’m Joe Biden’s Husband”

Biden opened with self-deprecating humor. “My name is Joe Biden. I’m Joe Biden’s husband,” he said. He added: “As you’ve rarely figured out, I can’t dance. I do it, but I ain’t good at it.”

Jill Biden introduced the evening by noting how Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff had been “dancing together” in their apartment. “Party of two. I can’t say the same of Joe, but— party of one,” Jill joked.

Administration Achievements Cited

Biden cited administration accomplishments for the Black community, including “landmark investments of $5.8 billion in historic Black colleges and universities” and noting he had “nominated more Black women at the Federal Bench than any administration in history.”

He described his first executive order instructing “every single element of my administration, every department from the Defense Department to the Justice Department, that equity should be the center of all of what we do.”

Biden also struggled with the name of his OMB director. “The woman that controls all the money — Sholanda, Sholanda Young,” Biden said, then similarly fumbled introducing his Council of Economic Advisors chair: “Cecilia — I’d kid her all the time, being from Princeton, but you know, Rowan.”

Key Takeaways

Jill Biden introduced Kamala Harris as “the President of the United States” before laughing and correcting herself — the latest in a series of such slips from Biden administration figures.
Biden struggled to pronounce his own Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson’s name, calling her “Katanji” and “Justice Brown.”
He called his UN Ambassador “Linda Greenhouse” instead of Linda Thomas-Greenfield — the name of a New York Times reporter.
Biden accused Republicans of trying to “keep the Black vote, when it occurs, from even counting” — going beyond claims about voter access to allege vote invalidation.
Biden also fumbled the names of his OMB director and Council of Economic Advisors chair during the same event.

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the Un— the Vice President of the Un— I just said that to make you laugh.
The nomination of Katanji— well, you saw her. Justice Brown. Justice Brown Jackson.
The General Assembly of the United Nations, Linda Greenhouse — Thomas-Greenfield. Linda.
It’s always made it harder for Blacks to vote, but this is trying to keep the Black vote, when it occurs, from even counting.
My name is Joe Biden. I’m Joe Biden’s husband. I can’t dance. I do it, but I ain’t good at it.
Elections matter. When folks vote, they order what they want, and in this case, they got what they asked for.

Full transcript: 593 words transcribed via Whisper AI.