Did US President Joe Biden forget Scott Morrison's name?

Did US President Joe Biden forget Scott Morrison’s name?

In a potential blunder invoking the time German Chancellor Angela Merkel had a cheat sheet with Scott Morrison’s photo on it, President Biden appeared to stumble over Mr Morrison’s name.

“Thank you Boris and I, ah, want to thank that fellow Down Under,” President Biden said at the opening of his remarks.

“Thank you very much, pal! Appreciate it, Mr Prime Minister.”

President Biden eventually said Mr Morrison’s name, but keen political watchers did not miss the moment.

“Biden literally could not even remember Scott Morrison’s name tonight. Just imagine if this were Trump. It’s incredibly worrying and the media must stop giving him a pass,” conservative UK Media personality Dan Wootton tweeted.

Former Senator and media commentator Derryn Hinch tweeted: “Did Biden forget ScoMo’s name or was it a term of endearment? I dunno”.

Sky News host Peter Stefanovic tweeted: “Biden: I want to thank that fella down under. (Goes to script) Thank you Mr Morrison”.

In 2018 just after Mr Morrison became Prime Minister after Malcolm Turnbull was rolled, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had a sheet of notes and a picture of Mr Morrison to be able to identify him during their bilateral at the G20 summit in Argentina.

Many made jest of the well-spotted notes.

At that stage Australia had six prime ministers (excluding Kevin Rudd's second stint) since Mrs Merkel became Germany's leader in 2005.

If President Biden did indeed forget Mr Morrison’s name it would be even more embarrassing given the PM is due to travel to Washington DC on Monday for his first one-on-one meeting.

The pair will also attend a historic first leaders meeting of the Quad – a security alliance between India, Japan, Australia and the US.

Mr Morrison will be overseas from September 20 to September 26 with the Quad talks to be held on September 24.