Seven times Joe Biden has stepped back into the spotlight – Washington Examiner
Former President Joe Biden is re-emerging into the public eye to defend his legacy amid ongoing investigations by a Republican-led Congress into his administration. In recent statements, he has targeted his successor Donald Trump, describing his presidency and recent actions negatively. During his appearances, biden emphasized his continued relevance, claiming that European leaders still seek his counsel in the face of Trump’s second administration. His remarks included criticisms of Trump’s administration and his record, maintaining that Trump has had “the worst 100 days” any president could have. Biden has also defended his own presidency against allegations of mental decline and discussed his optimistic outlook following a cancer diagnosis. His recent engagements have included a keynote speech at a convention, where he lamented that his legislative achievements are being quickly undone. The White House has dismissed biden’s statements,labeling him as “the worst and most incompetent President in American history.”
Biden steps into spotlight to push back against Trump and defend record
Former President Joe Biden is slowly stepping back into the spotlight since his White House exit in January to defend his legacy in the face of GOP investigations.
On the few occasions that Biden has chosen to speak to the public, he has directly and indirectly targeted his successor, President Donald Trump, and the GOP-led Congress that is now investigating his aides as part of a broader autopen investigation.
JOE BIDEN’S DEBATE AGAINST DONALD TRUMP HAUNTS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ONE YEAR ON
His most recent comments came this week in a little-covered appearance at the HR trade group Society for Human Resource Management’s convention in San Diego, where he claimed European leaders still sought his advice as they navigate Trump’s second administration. “They ask to see me, and I see them,” he said. “I’m also laying rubber with my ’67 Corvette in my driveway.”
The Trump White House was unimpressed.
“Joe Biden was the worst and most incompetent President in American history,” said Liz Huston, a White House spokeswoman. “President Trump is working tirelessly to clean up his mess and make America greater than ever before. Any day Joe Biden is appearing on the public stage, reminding Americans of his failures, is a good day for the White House.”
A spokesperson for Biden’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
This isn’t the first time Biden has spoken about Trump since leaving the White House. The Washington Examiner lists seven times the former president rebuked Trump or made rare remarks about his administration.
1. Biden’s first post-White House interview with the BBC
In early May, the BBC released its exclusive interview with Biden after his presidency, in which he criticized Trump’s attempts to pressure Ukraine to give up part of its territory to Russia.
“It is modern-day appeasement,” Biden said as he criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I just don’t understand how people think that if we allow a dictator, a thug, to decide he’s going to take significant portions of land that aren’t his, and that’s going to satisfy him. I don’t quite understand.”
Biden did not appear impressed with Trump’s efforts to redefine the White House in his first 100 days. “I don’t see anything that’s triumphant,” Biden said.
2. Biden goes on The View
The same week as the BBC interview, Biden conducted his first live interview with an American outlet since leaving the White House with the hosts of The View.
Biden largely defended his presidency from unrelenting criticisms that he and his allies had covered up his mental decline while serving as president.
Biden, again, took another shot at Trump’s first 100 days in office. “He’s had the worst 100 days any president ever had,” Biden said about his successor.
Although Biden claimed he could have defeated Trump if he had not suspended his 2024 campaign, the former president conceded that he bears responsibility for Trump’s win. “I was in charge, and he won. So, you know, I take responsibility,” he said.
When Joy Behar, an anti-Trump critic and co-host on The View, asked Biden why Trump has repeatedly blamed him for problems the U.S. faces, Biden responded, “I beat him.”
3. After cancer diagnosis, Biden stays hopeful
After Biden’s shocking announcement that he had an “aggressive form” of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones, he attended his grandson, Robert Hunter Biden II’s, high school graduation in Salisbury, Connecticut.
The former president told travelers at the Bradley International Airport in Connecticut that he was “feeling great” and “doing fine” ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.
The cancer revelation prompted Trump and Congress to launch multiple investigations into Biden aides over his use of the autopen to conduct presidential actions.
4. Biden defends record while in Delaware
In late May, Biden defended his decision to seek reelection and his mental acuity amid the rising swell of concern after the cancer diagnosis.
“You can see that I’m mentally incompetent and I can’t walk, and I can beat the hell out of both of them!” Biden cheekily told reporters following the publication of a new book from journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, alleging a White House cover-up of his health.
Biden claimed he would “beat” prostate cancer.
“The expectation is we’re going to be able to beat this. It’s not in any organ. My bones are strong. So feeling good,” Biden said while speaking at a Memorial Day service in New Castle, Delaware.
5. Biden takes aim at Trump during Juneteenth
During an event commemorating Juneteenth, the holiday celebrating the end of slavery that Biden signed into law in 2021, in Galveston, Texas, Biden attacked Trump’s efforts to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
“I played a role in changing the names of all the military camps that have slave names,” Biden said. “What are we doing now? Restating those names. Folks, the darkness can hide much but erase nothing.”
Trump didn’t hold a Juneteenth celebration or sign a proclamation to mark the holiday.
6. Biden attends the funeral of a slain Minnesota lawmaker
In late June, Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris joined mourners at the funeral of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were killed by a man posing as a police officer. Law enforcement called their June 14 deaths an assassination. Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also wounded by the attacker.
“Melissa Hortman will be remembered as the most consequential speaker in Minnesota history. I get to remember her as a close friend, a mentor, and the most talented legislator I have ever known,” said Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), Harris’s former running mate, during his eulogy.
Neither Biden nor Harris spoke, but both were seated with Walz.
Days before the funeral, the former president also joined mourners as Hortman, her husband, and her dog lay in state in the Minnesota Capitol rotunda.
Neither Trump nor Vice President JD Vance attended the funerals.
7. Biden takes shot at ‘big, beautiful bill’
At Wednesday’s Society for Human Resource Management convention, Biden lamented Trump’s efforts to reverse the gains from Biden’s tenure.
“Many of the things I worked so damn hard, that I thought I changed in the country, are changing so rapidly,” Biden said in a keynote speech.
The former president did not mention Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which passed through the House after gaining approval in the Senate. The legislation would reverse the Medicaid expansions enacted during Biden’s term.
But as soon as it passed the House on Thursday, Biden’s X account posted a statement calling the bill “reckless” and “cruel.”
Trump signed the legislation into law on Friday, coinciding with the Fourth of July deadline lawmakers had set.
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