President Joe Biden injected a moment of humor into the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco on Thursday, as he abandoned the effort to pronounce a tech company’s name during his address to chief executives.
Biden, addressing the esteemed audience of CEOs, encountered difficulty while reading a list of tech companies displayed on a teleprompter. Rather than persisting with the pronunciation, the President chose to lighten the mood, stating, “It’s better to not try.”
“In this world-renowned hub of innovation, so many tech companies like Anthropic and…I’m gonna mispronounce,” Biden remarked, with a smile. “I’m not even going to try. It’s better to not try, and not mispronounce, than try and mispronounce.”
Amidst laughter from the audience, Biden seamlessly transitioned back to the substance of his speech, emphasizing the involvement of small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
The incident highlighted Biden’s candid approach and offered a moment of levity at the summit. The President, who dealt with a speech impediment during his childhood, is known for his occasional verbal slip-ups.
*Economic Outlook and Acknowledgment of Inflation:*
During his address, President Biden acknowledged the recent inflation figures in the United States, revealing a 3.2 percent increase in prices in the year to October – the smallest annual rise since June.
“Unemployment has maintained levels below 4 percent for 21 consecutive months, and inflation has seen a significant reduction of 65 percent,” Biden reported. “While there is more work to be done, we currently boast the lowest inflation rate among advanced economies globally. Simultaneously, median household wealth has experienced a real-term growth of 37 percent since before the pandemic.”
President Biden’s acknowledgment of economic challenges coupled with his light-hearted moment contributed to a well-rounded address at the APEC summit, providing insight into the administration’s economic priorities.
