Falling off bikes and down stairs experiences never seem to depart from this man. Joe Biden paid a surprise visit to Harvard University for a private meeting with fifty students. During discussions, Biden incorrectly referred to Ukraine as Iraq, requiring a correction from his senior adviser. Biden dropped a partially melted ice cream bar on the floor during the event.
Presidential Visit Marred by Protests and Gaffes
Former President Joe Biden’s recent visit to Harvard University quickly descended into chaos when pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted his private meeting with students. The invite-only event, organized at the request of Biden’s senior adviser Mike Donilon (a spring resident fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics), was intended as an opportunity for candid discussion with approximately 50 students away from media scrutiny. However, demonstrators seized the opportunity to voice their opposition to Biden’s policies regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The former president’s visit had already generated attention when several students captured selfies with Biden and shared them across social media platforms. These images quickly spread online, drawing additional attention to an event that was originally intended to be private. Biden did not meet with Harvard leadership during his visit, keeping his interactions limited to the student forum and his adviser’s events.
Joe Biden Treated Like a Toddler As He Drops “Partially Melted” Ice Cream Bar in Gaffe-Filled Visit to Harvardhttps://t.co/0EIJdLUWyk
— Julia 🇺🇸 (@Jules31415) April 18, 2025
Verbal Missteps Continue to Follow Biden
In what has become a familiar pattern from his presidency, Biden made a notable verbal error during his Harvard discussion when he mistakenly referred to Ukraine as Iraq while addressing international affairs. His senior adviser, Mike Donilon, was forced to step in and correct the mistake in real time. This gaffe follows a pattern that became well-documented throughout Biden’s presidential campaign and term in office, when verbal slips and confusions frequently made headlines.
Biden used his Harvard platform to praise the university for what he characterized as resistance to Trump administration demands regarding changes to policies related to antisemitism and diversity programs. According to reports, the Trump administration had frozen $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts following Harvard’s refusal to comply with requested policy modifications, a stance Biden explicitly commended during his remarks.
Another misguided Harvard decision to invite Biden come for an appearance. Besides dropping his ice-cream incident, Biden referred to Ukraine as Iraq. 🙄 pic.twitter.com/fEpPlThcgH
— 💥Texas Girl💥 (@Ilegvm) April 17, 2025
Ice Cream Incident Adds to Awkward Visit
In a moment that quickly generated attention on social media, Biden dropped a partially melted ice cream bar on the floor during the event. The incident provided an unfortunately timed visual that seemed to underscore the chaotic nature of the visit, which was already facing disruption from protesters. Images of the dropped dessert circulated alongside reports of Biden’s policy comments and verbal missteps, creating a less-than-ideal impression of the former president’s campus appearance.
This Harvard visit follows Biden’s appearance earlier in the week at a conference in Chicago, where he also reportedly struggled with his delivery. During that event, he recounted a childhood story using terminology now considered outdated, further adding to concerns about his public appearances. The series of verbal missteps and awkward moments continues to follow the former president in his post-White House public engagements.