New Delhi: In a viral video, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was heard accidentally referring to President Joe Biden as “President Obama” while addressing a presser on Biden’s nominee for the World Bank president. She was on live TV when the slip-of-tongue moment occurred. She said, “So today, as you all saw just an hour or so ago, President Obama announced that–Pardon me, President Biden!” This led to shocked reactions from the reporters present at the presser. Jean-Pierre was also surprised at her accidental reference to President Obama and took a moment to collect her thoughts and carry on with the presser. “Whoa! Ahem, that is news. I know, we’re going back not forwards. We’ve gotta go forwards,” she said.

Watch the video:

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre accidently referred US President Joe Biden as “President Obama.” !#US #JeanPierre #President #JoeBiden #PresidentObama #viral #trending pic.twitter.com/sFPqxeWaSQ
— The Asian Affairs (@TheAsianAffairs) February 24, 2023

She then announced “President Biden’s” nominee Ajay Banga to lead the World Bank. White House Press Secretary said, “The US nominated Ajay Banga to be president of the World Bank. President Biden himself said he is uniquely equipped to lead the world bank, he is a renowned business executive that has managed companies bringing jobs and investment to developing economies.

“He (Ajay Banga) has a proven track record of creating public-private partnerships. Raised in India he has a unique perspective on opportunities and challenges facing developing countries & how World Bank can deliver on its agenda for prosperity and reduce poverty,” she added.

Earlier, on Thursday, US President Joe Biden nominated former Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga to lead the World Bank.

“Ajay is uniquely equipped to lead the World Bank at this critical moment in history. He has spent more than three decades building and managing successful, global companies that create jobs and bring investment to developing economies, and guiding organizations through periods of fundamental change. He has a proven track record managing people and systems and partnering with global leaders around the world to deliver results,” read Biden’s statement.

Banga, a business leader with extensive experience leading successful organizations in developing countries and forging public-private partnerships to address financial inclusion and climate change, is to be President of the World Bank.

“He also has critical experience mobilizing public-private resources to tackle the most urgent challenges of our time, including climate change. Raised in India, Ajay has a unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing developing countries and how the World Bank can deliver on its ambitious agenda to reduce poverty and expand prosperity,” read the statement.

The decision comes after World Bank’s President David Malpass earlier said that he will step down almost a year early from his position. Malpass’ exit comes months after calls grew for him to step down after he declined to acknowledge the scientific consensus that fossil fuels were warming the planet.

(With ANI inputs)