By Emmanuel Bobby
Former President Joe Biden delivered pointed criticism of President Donald Trump on Friday during a speech in Columbia, South Carolina, joking about the length of Trump’s recent State of the Union address before launching into sharper attacks.
“Is he still talking?” Biden quipped to laughter, referencing Trump’s Tuesday speech, which ran a record 1 hour and 47 minutes.
The remark was among the lightest of Biden’s critiques during his roughly 20-minute address. He accused Trump of harboring a “weird obsession with Barack Obama” and alleged he was attempting to “steal the election” by putting up roadblocks to voting ahead of the midterms. At one point, Biden said plainly, “There’s something wrong with this guy.”
The White House did not immediately respond to the comments.
Return to a Pivotal State
Biden’s appearance marked a rare public speech since leaving office last year. He was honored by party leaders and donors for lifetime achievement and reflected on his decisive 2020 South Carolina primary victory — a win that revitalized his campaign after early losses in Iowa and New Hampshire and set him on a path to the presidency.
“I knew if I won the nomination, I’d win the presidency, because I knew what Bill Clinton and Barack Obama knew before me: South Carolina picks presidents,” Biden said. “Not a joke, folks. When it mattered, you were there for me.”
In 2020, Biden’s strong showing among the state’s majority-Black Democratic electorate helped consolidate party support, prompting several rivals to exit the race and endorse him.
Ahead of the 2028 election cycle, South Carolina Democrats are seeking to retain the state’s first-in-the-nation primary status. While Biden did not explicitly advocate for that position, he emphasized the state’s predictive power in presidential politics.
“Dark Days” and Immigration Criticism
Biden’s tone shifted as he addressed the recent fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota.
“My friends, I can’t sugarcoat this,” Biden said. “These are dark days.”
He faulted Trump for not mentioning the victims during the State of the Union and criticized him for failing to offer support to their families or acknowledge other victims highlighted at the address.
Biden, who left office amid concerns within his own party about his age and fitness for a second term, sought to contrast his record with Trump’s second presidency, now one year underway.
He highlighted actions taken during his administration, including capping insulin costs and promoting job growth, and argued that the country’s global standing and domestic stability have suffered under Trump.
Defending His Border Record
Immigration remains a defining issue of Trump’s political strength. He secured the 2024 election in part on voter dissatisfaction with border security during Biden’s tenure, when crossings surged and cities across the country struggled to accommodate migrants transported from border states.
Biden attempted to negotiate a bipartisan immigration deal in Congress, but it ultimately collapsed. Later executive actions to tighten restrictions drew mixed reactions, including criticism from within his own party.
On Friday, Biden defended his record.
“Despite the fact that Covid drove migration to record levels all around the world, the day I left office, border crossings in the United States were lower than the day that I entered the office I inherited from Trump,” he said. “That’s just a fact.”
Recent polling has shown growing public unease with Trump’s current deportation operations, even as immigration remains a central political issue.
Biden’s speech signaled that, though out of office, he remains willing to reenter the political arena to defend his legacy and challenge his successor’s policies as the country looks toward the next election cycle.
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