Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A blistering critique of US President Donald Trump by his predecessor, Joe Biden, generated thunderous applause from the audience before dying down instantly as the former president struggled to find his way out of the stage he was speaking from.
The incident appeared to reignite memories of the damaging period of his presidency that derailed his ambitions for a second term: concerns about his progressive cognitive decline.
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Biden, who was pressured to withdraw from his reelection campaign by fellow Democrats in 2024 following his debate debacle against Trump, defended his record and criticised the Republican president during his speech at a Democratic Party gala near Maryland’s Baltimore on Saturday (local time).
During his speech, the 83-year-old tore into Trump, whom he termed a “loser” for commissioning what he described as “vanity projects.”
“It’s not just his vanity projects; tearing down the East Wing of the White House making room for his ballroom, putting his name on the Kennedy Centre, building an arch in his own honour, even hiring his own pool guy to fix the reflecting pool. Woah! What a loser,” Biden said as he addressed the attendees of the event.
“The reflecting pool reflects something even worse than the narcissism and incompetence at the core of this administration,” he added, referring to the controversial renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. “It’s the corruption, the corruption, the brazen, blatant corruption. Corruption on a scale never seen before in American history in any administration,” Biden was quoted as saying by CNN.
“Have you noticed that Americans are saying the economy under the Biden administration is a hell of a lot better than under Trump?” he told the gathering in Maryland, the New York Post reported.
He concluded the speech with a familiar refrain about the US’s supposed ability to overcome challenges. Following this, he sought an assist to figure out which way to leave the stage.
The ex-president then turned to the side seeking guidance, before pointing in two directions to determine the best route. Once he ascertained that, Biden walked away from the stage with his back facing the audience.
He appeared at the Democratic event just days after he attended the grand opening of the Barack Obama presidential library in Chicago.
At that event’s conclusion, Biden was seen standing clueless on the stage. As the programme wrapped up, he asked, “Where’s my granddaughter?” while moving toward the podium. At several points during the appearance, he was accompanied and assisted by his wife, Jill Biden.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
