S. Korean pres frets over ‘humiliating for Biden’ hot-mic flop, US leader seems confused

September 22, 2022

A hot mic caught South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol saying Wednesday he fears Congress “humiliating” President Biden by rejecting his $6 billion pledge to global health projects — moments after Biden awkwardly meandered on stage at a Manhattan event.

Yoon told aides as he left a photo op that the US president may be in for some further embarrassment after Biden seemed confused about what to do after he finished his remarks.

According to a translation published by the Washington Post, Yoon said, “It would be so humiliating for Biden if these idiots don’t pass it in Congress.”

A different translation, by the South China Morning Post, had Yoon saying, “How could Biden not lose damn face if these f–kers do not pass it in Congress?”

It was one of a series of uncomfortable moments at the Seventh Replenishment Conference of the UN’s Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria — where Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates introduced Biden, despite the fact that his friendship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in recent years has overshadowed his charitable giving.

A picture of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. — South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol spoke at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

A picture of President Biden at an NYC event. — President Biden looked “confused” about where to go after he finished his remarks at a NYC event.

A picture of President Biden at the UN General Assembly. — A mic caught South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol saying he fears Congress “humiliating” President Biden by rejecting his $6 billion pledge to global health projects.

Biden exchanged gestures with fellow world leaders after his remarks at the Lenox Hill venue, checking with them to see if he should be walking off the stage as Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund, delivered a 2-minute thank you before calling the leaders on stage for a photo.

Biden robotically walked from his podium toward stage right, with his forearms at 90-degree angles to his body, before abruptly halting and turning to face the audience and give a questioning expression to a group including Yoon, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

“Mr. President! Thank you!” Sands said, commanding Biden’s attention and preventing him from walking off stage.

A picture of South Korean President Yook Suk-yeol and President Biden. — A picture of South Korean President Yook Suk-yeol talking with President Biden after the Geneva-based Global Fund to Fight AIDS conference.

“At the end of such a momentous event, the world thank you feels kind of inadequate. But for all of the millions whose lives will be saved, for the communities where lives will be transformed, thank you.”

After the group photo, Yoon bowed respectfully toward Biden and shook his hand before offering his more candid appraisal on his way out the door.