Old people see dead people more that they see living ones. He probably did meet him.

On Monday, President Joe Biden recounted a conversation that stirred both amusement and bewilderment. He shared an anecdote about an exchange he believed occurred after his election with François Mitterrand, the former President of France from 1981 to 1995.

The story sparked intrigue due to a simple reason; Mitterrand had passed away in 1996, making such an encounter impossible.

I try to be cautious about treating every instance of Biden's mis-speaking as cognitive decline. People misspeak, get tired, etc.

But this clip is unquestionably dementia. He has no idea what he's babbling about. Can't remember leaders' names. Thinks he's talking to Mitterand. https://t.co/L3wLbhAunb

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 6, 2024

During a discussion about his early days in office, Biden recalled, “Right after I was elected, I attended a G7 meeting with all the NATO leaders.”

“I sat down and declared, ‘America’s back!’ Mitterrand from Germany, I mean, from France, looked at me and asked, ‘How long you back for?’”

The statement quickly grabbed attention for its historical inaccuracies, particularly regarding Mitterrand’s nationality and the implication of conversing with a leader long deceased.

Biden’s intent was to emphasize the importance of American leadership and commitment on the global stage. However, his mention of Mitterrand, a significant figure in European politics who had no overlap with Biden’s presidency due to his passing in 1996, led to scrutiny on social media.

In essence, Biden aimed to highlight America’s renewed presence internationally, but the inclusion of a conversation with a deceased leader inadvertently stirred a mix of reactions and raised questions about the accuracy of the narrative.