Biden appears to praise the very much alive Gabby Giffords

president Joe Biden appeared to praise the former Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords on Friday, praising her husband Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) in Arizona.

Giffords it was terrible shot in the head during the 2011 mass shooting near Tuscon. She survived and left the ward. Her long road to recovery has been well documented.

On Friday afternoon, Biden was in Arizona apologize to Native Americans across the country on behalf of the US government for atrocities committed in residential schools for Native American children.

Before making comments about Native American children, the president was introduced on stage by the governor. Stephen Lewis of the Indian community of the Gila River. Biden thanked Lewis, introduced himself, congratulated Senator Kelly, and then appeared to address Giffords in the past tense:

I’m Joe Biden, Jill Biden’s husband. Governor, thank you for your introduction. And to the Gila River Indian community for welcoming me today. You know, I mean it sincerely. To me, this is one of the most important things I’ve ever had the opportunity to do in my career as President of the United States. it is an honor, a true honor, to be in this special place on this special day. Thank you to Senator Mark Kelly, a wonderful friend who is also married to an incredible woman who was a friend of mine.

This was not the first time that Biden had buried someone prematurely. As Vice President in 2010, Biden asked for a blessing for the Irish Prime Minister’s mother, declaring, “God bless her soul,” even though she is very much alive.

Biden followed up with a conversation with Native Americans where he offered an apology he said was “overdue” for Native American children who were forcibly relocated to residential schools for 150 years, ending in the 1960s.

Hundreds of these children died in schools, and countless others were physically and sexually abused.

On Friday, Biden became the first US president to formally apologize for resettlement programs, fulfilling a long-standing promise to do so.

Watch above via C-SPAN.

Do you have any advice for us? [email protected]