Former President Joe Biden launched a sharp attack on President Donald Trump Saturday night, targeting his renovation projects in Washington, D.C., including the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, as a mix of narcissism and incompetence. Speaking at the Maryland Democratic Party's annual gala, Biden did not hold back, labeling Trump a 'loser' for his efforts to reshape the capital's landmarks.
'It's not just his vanity projects,' Biden said, according to prepared remarks. 'He's tearing down the East Wing of the White House, making room for his ballroom. Putting his name on the Kennedy Center. Building an arch in his own honor. Even hiring his own pool guy to fix his Reflecting Pool. Whoa, what a loser.'
The Reflecting Pool renovations have been plagued by issues, including algae blooms and alleged vandalism, since Trump ordered repainting and repairs. Other pet projects include a $600 million White House ballroom replacing the East Room and plans for a triumphal arch bearing Trump's name. Trump's name briefly appeared on the Kennedy Center exterior but was removed after a federal judge intervened.
Biden, who has been battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer since leaving office, used the rare public appearance to broaden his critique. 'Now folks, it's not just that,' he said. 'The Reflecting Pool reflects something even worse than the narcissism and incompetence at the core of this administration. It's the corruption, the brazen, blatant corruption. Corruption on a scale never seen before in American history in any administration.'
He pointed to Trump's personal financial gains since returning to the White House. 'Trump has made billions of dollars since his return to the White House. It's simply stunning to me. He has no shame. And frankly, it's embarrassing to the country. But Trump could care less. Making money off the presidency is one of the reasons he wants to be president.'
Trump's reported $4 billion windfall raises questions about presidential ethics and public trust, a theme Biden hammered as he contrasted his own record with Trump's. Biden's cancer treatment has limited his public engagements, but he has remained a vocal critic. In October, after completing radiation, he called these 'dark days' for the country.
The former president also took a jab at Trump's marathon State of the Union address in February, joking days later in South Carolina whether his successor was 'still talking.' But Saturday's tone was more pointed, reflecting Biden's frustration as polls show Americans hold a slightly more favorable view of Trump than him. A CNN survey released in June found 34 percent favorable for Trump versus 30 percent for Biden, with former President Barack Obama leading at 57 percent.
Biden's cancer battle has made each appearance a political event, and his decision to speak out now signals an intensifying Democratic pushback against Trump's agenda. The gala remarks came as Trump continues to consolidate power, including tapping a former trooper to lead ICE amid immigration turmoil and pushing for voter ID laws that risk the GOP's midterm message.
The contrast between the two presidents was stark: Biden, visibly weakened but still fighting, versus Trump, presiding over a capital in flux. Whether this critique resonates with voters remains to be seen, but Biden made clear he sees Trump's renovations as more than aesthetic—they are a symptom of deeper rot.
