Joe Biden has openly criticized Donald Trump’s recent State of the Union address, even asking if his successor was “still talking.” Biden’s remarks came during a South Carolina Democratic Party event, where he was celebrating the sixth anniversary of his crucial 2020 South Carolina Democratic primary victory, a win many believe was pivotal for his path to the nomination.
“By the way did you see Trump give the State of Union?” Biden asked the crowd, which responded with boos. “Is he still talking? I don’t know. But folks, it’s unbelievable. The guy talks for almost two hours, but never mentions the anniversary of Putin invading Ukraine. Never once.”
Biden specifically called out what he saw as glaring omissions and misrepresentations in Trump’s address. He claimed that when he left office, “border crossings in the United States were lower than the day that I entered an office inherited from Trump.” He also emphasized his economic legacy, stating, “On the day I left office, I handed Trump the strongest economy in the world. In the world, that’s not hyperbole. That’s a fact.”
It seems pretty clear that Biden thinks Trump isn’t doing a great job
Beyond specific policy points, Biden also expressed broader concerns for the nation. He said the U.S. is currently in the midst of “dark days,” facing threats that are “amplified in the ways we have never seen before.” He stressed the importance of standing firm, adding, “Our children are watching and I’m worried about what they are hearing, so we have to be unapologetic for fighting for our country.”
Trump’s address has also received wider criticism for not addressing key economic concerns that are affecting people. Instead of doing that, he took the time to attack rivals. The State of the Union address was also marked by democratic protests.
Of course, Trump used his State of the Union address to highlight his administration’s achievements. He credited himself with a stronger economy than what he inherited from Biden and championed his deportation agenda, despite significant pushback from Democrats. It seems both leaders have very different views on the state of the country and their respective legacies.
Interestingly, these political jabs come as a slim majority of Americans seem to believe Biden handled the presidency better, even over a year into Trump’s second term. A recent poll found that 51 percent of Americans think Trump is doing a worse job than Biden, while 49 percent said Trump is better than his predecessor. It’s a really close split, showing how divided opinions are.
Both presidents also face some challenges with public perception, as respondents viewed Trump unfavorably by 8% more than those who viewed him favorably. The gap for Biden was slightly larger at 10%, indicating both leaders have work to do to win over the public.
Published: Mar 2, 2026 08:07 am