During a speech near the Grand Canyon, President Joe Biden made an error by mistakenly referring to it as one of the “nine” wonders of the world. The gaffe occurred as he described the canyon as an "enduring symbol of America to the entire world." However, Biden quickly corrected himself, acknowledging that it is actually one of the “seven” wonders of the world.

The Grand Canyon is widely recognized as one of the world's seven natural wonders, not one of the seven wonders of the world. The actual wonders included on the list are the Great Wall of China, Chich?©n Itz?? in Mexico, Petra in Jordan, Machu Picchu in Peru, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil, the Colosseum in Italy, and the Taj Mahal in India. Although the Grand Canyon is not part of this list, it is included on a widely accepted list of the seven natural wonders of the world compiled by CNN in 1997. This list also features the northern lights, the Great Barrier Reef, the Harbor at Rio de Janeiro, Par?­cutin in Mexico, Victoria Falls, and Mount Everest.

Biden attempted to correct himself by stating that he meant to say “seven” instead of "nine," but he still included the Grand Canyon on the list of the world's seven wonders. He shared his personal experience of visiting the Grand Canyon as a young senator, describing it as "God's cathedral" and emphasizing its magnificence.

The president's speech at Red Butte Airfield in Arizona focused on his administration's climate agenda and conservation efforts, specifically highlighting the designation of 1.1 million acres near the Grand Canyon as a national monument to restrict uranium mining. However, this decision faced criticism from Senator Mitt Romney, who expressed concerns about the impact on miners and ranchers in Utah.

Biden's gaffe at the Grand Canyon adds to the ongoing discussions about his mental and physical fitness as the oldest-ever president. A June poll revealed that only 32% of voters believe Biden has the necessary mental sharpness to be president, compared to 54% who said the same of former President Donald Trump. Despite these concerns, Biden and Trump are currently tied in general-election polling, with narrow margins in swing states that will determine the Electoral College outcome.