It has become apparent over the last few years that President Joe Biden, the oldest president in U.S. history, has suffered a decline in his cognitive capabilities, but rather remarkably he has also displayed a willingness at times to make self-deprecating jokes about his mental health shortfall.

While welcoming the NBA champion Boston Celtics to the White House on Thursday, Biden joked about not knowing who they were as he also seemed to publicly reveal his confidential Secret Service codename, according to Fox News.

The faux forgetfulness was all part of the act, though, as Biden showed through his later remarks that he was well aware of who the champion-caliber players were behind him and the legendary city they hailed from, which is celebrating its 18th NBA championship.

Biden jokes about not knowing team, reveals Secret Service codename

At the start of his remarks on the White House South Lawn, President Biden welcomed the Boston Celtics players and staff and joked, "I don’t know -- know any of these guys behind me, but they just showed up. I don’t know where the hell they came from."

"2024 NBA champions: the Bols- -- you’re Celtics, right?" he continued to laughter from the crowd. "The Boston Celtics. Not just any champion but the winningest franchise in league history, and now with a record 18 titles."

"Let me just say, all of you may not know this, but my Secret Service name is 'Celtic' -- for real -- because I’m Irish," Biden revealed, likely to the dismay of his protective detail. "Everybody behind me is -- is Irish in their heart. I feel a special pride in this trophy. From this old Irish Celtic to all you Celtics, congratulations."

He also joked at one point about his age as he referenced Coach Joe Mazzulla, who was 35 when he won his first championship, and how he was the youngest senator when he was first elected decades ago. Biden said, "I used to like Joe -- Joe is the youngest head coach to win a title since the great Bill Russell. I told him I used to be the youngest; now I’m the oldest. I liked being the youngest better."

Biden knows the team and what they accomplished

President Biden went on to herald the professional basketball team for their league-best record in the regular season and impressive playoff run to the championship, during which they only lost three games, and even took note of some of the relatively obscure statistical history the squad had achieved, such as the most points per possession ever.

He also pointed out how the tradition of welcoming NBA champions to the White House began in 1963 with President John F. Kennedy and the Boston Celtics, which he said was focused on "celebrating the power of sports to bring people together. It’s a tradition that I’ve honor- -- I’ve had the honor to continue."

"No matter the sport, what these champions all have in common are core values, and I mean this sincerely: hard work, teamwork, respect, the knowledge that no one of us is ever as good as all of us can be when we’re together -- that when we get -- when we get knocked down, we get back up," Biden said.

The Associated Press reported that near the conclusion of the event, President Biden was presented with a commemorative Celtics jersey that bore his name and the number "46" by star players Jayson Tatum and Derrick White, along with a team basketball that he dribbled and passed back and forth with some of the players and members of the audience.

Per the White House transcript, Biden said, "I’ll be damned, man," as he received the jersey and joked, "I’m going to put this on," after which he thanked the players for the gifts.

Player "impressed" with Biden's basketball handling skills

After the event, the AP reported, guard Derrick White told reporters of the White House visit, "I didn’t really know what to expect. I walked in, I was like 'I’m more excited than I thought I was going be.' To be in the White House, to be where all the decisions -- all the cool things -- are happening, that was the best part."

As for President Biden dribbling and passing the commemorative basketball around, the star player added, "I wasn’t expecting a pump fake. It’s harder to make a pass in a suit, so I was impressed."