By Blessing Nweke

Former President Joe Biden returned to the political stage Friday, sharply criticizing President Donald Trump during remarks in Columbia, South Carolina.

“Is he still talking?” Biden quipped to laughter, referencing Trump’s marathon State of the Union address earlier in the week that stretched 1 hour and 47 minutes. But the light jab quickly gave way to more forceful criticism.

In a roughly 20-minute speech, Biden accused Trump of harboring a “weird obsession with Barack Obama” and attempting to “steal the election” by pushing voting restrictions ahead of the midterms. “There is something wrong with this guy,” Biden said bluntly. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The speech marked a rare public appearance since Biden left office last year. He was honored by party leaders and donors in a state pivotal to his 2020 victory. Biden praised South Carolina’s role in reviving his campaign after early losses in Iowa and New Hampshire, arguing the state remains a political bellwether ahead of 2028.

“South Carolina picks presidents,” he said. “When it mattered, you were there for me.”

Biden’s tone grew somber as he addressed fatal shootings involving immigration agents in Minnesota, criticizing Trump for failing to acknowledge the victims during his State of the Union address. “These are dark days,” he said.

He also defended his own immigration record, arguing border crossings were lower when he left office than when he entered, and pointed to job growth, lower crime rates and efforts to cap insulin prices as key achievements.

Now one year into Trump’s second term, Biden framed the current administration as a step backward, vowing Democrats must remain vigilant.