Biden appears to freeze up, forget Homeland Security sec's name during White House event: ‘all kidding aside’

President Biden appeared to freeze up and temporarily forget the name of his Homeland Security Secretary during a White House event Tuesday. 

The president had taken the podium in the White House’s East Room to announce new measures giving illegal immigrants living in the U.S. a pathway to citizenship. 

Biden introduced himself, using a familiar quip about being "Jill Biden’s husband." 

He thanked Congress and Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, but seemed to trail off when trying to remember Mayorkas’ name. 

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"I’m not sure I’m going to be able to introduce you all the way," Biden said, eliciting laughter from the audience. 

The president then appeared to brush off the flub as a deliberate joke, commenting, "But all kidding aside, Secretary Mayorkas, Secretary [of the Department of Health and Human Services] Becerra and advocates and families, law enforcement, faith leaders, and everybody that’s here." 

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment. 

Biden used the event to announce sweeping new policy changes in an election year that would give hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants in the United States a pathway to citizenship. 

The president announced that his administration will, in the coming months, allow certain American citizens’ spouses who are living in the U.S. illegally, to apply for permanent residency and eventually citizenship without having to first depart the country.  

Biden’s ostensible flub on Tuesday is the latest incident to draw into question the president’s mental acuteness going into an election year.

Last week, The Wall Street Journal published a report, citing Republicans, and even some Democrats, who said the president was showing signs of slowing down during private meetings. 

Caitlin Clark headlines most-watched WNBA game in more than 20 years

The Caitlin Clark effect is showing no signs of slowing down. 

The Indiana Fever rookie put up a team-high of 23 points and nine assists in Sunday’s win over the Chicago Sky in what was the most-watched WNBA game on any network in 23 years. 

An average of 2.25 million people tuned to CBS to watch the rematch between Clark and Chicago’s Angel Reese. The Fever’s 91-83 victory peaked at nearly 3 million viewers. 

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Clark’s big night, which featured Reese being assessed a flagrant-1 foul for hitting the former Iowa star in the head with her arm, followed a rough contest against Atlanta in which the No. 1 pick had seven points, six assists and seven turnovers. 

But despite the expected growing pains of her first year in the pros, fans are continuing to tune in and show up to watch Clark. 

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Earlier this month, the WNBA announced that May marked the highest attended opening month in 26 years and the most-watched start of the season ever across every network. 

This unprecedented growth in viewership and attendance this season has much to do with this year’s rookie class. According to the league, "four of the five moments that drove the most engagement on social channels" included highlights of Clark, Reese, Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks, or Las Vegas Aces’ Kate Martin. 

"What’s happening now in women’s basketball is confirmation of what we’ve always known: The demand is there, and women’s sports is a valuable investment," Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison said in a statement last week. 

"We’re encouraged by growing engagement across all our verticals, especially as we welcome new and diverse audiences into our fandom. The WNBA continues to experience sustained growth as our league embraces this heightened momentum."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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