President Joe Biden launched a blistering attack on his predecessor Donald Trump at a high-dollar fundraiser in New York last night, calling him a 'loser' and dismissing his political movement as a 'vanity project'. The remarks, which drew cheers from the crowd of wealthy donors, mark a sharp escalation in the president's rhetoric as the general election campaign heats up.
Speaking at a private event in Manhattan, Biden did not mince words when addressing the former president's recent legal troubles and ongoing campaign. 'He is a loser. He lost the popular vote twice. He lost the House, the Senate, and the White House for the Republican Party. And now he is a convicted felon facing multiple criminal trials,' Biden said, according to pool reports. 'This is not about making America great again. This is about his ego, his vanity project.'
The president's language was notably more aggressive than his usual stump speech, reflecting a strategic shift as polls show a tightening race in key swing states. Biden's campaign has been under increasing pressure to draw a sharper contrast between the president and his rival, particularly on economic issues where voters remain anxious about inflation and wages.
For working families in places like my hometown of Manchester, this political theatre can feel distant from the reality of rising grocery bills and stagnant pay packets. But the president's attack reveals a deeper truth: the choice in November is not just about policies, but about who sees the country's struggles firsthand. Trump's 'vanity project' is a world away from the union halls and factory gates where Biden has been campaigning on labour rights and infrastructure investments.
Biden also highlighted what he called Trump's 'contempt for working people', citing his opposition to raising the minimum wage and his administration's record on union busting. 'He talks about the American worker but he spent four years cutting taxes for billionaires and shipping jobs overseas,' Biden said. 'This election is about whether the economy works for everyone or just those at the top.'
The fundraiser, hosted by financier and Democratic donor Alan Patricof, raised an estimated $5 million for the Biden Victory Fund. The money will go toward advertising and ground operations in battleground states where union households could tip the scales. With the cost of living still a top concern for voters, Biden's team is betting that linking Trump to corporate greed and economic inequality will resonate among blue-collar voters who once supported the former president.
Reaction from Trump's camp was swift. Campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung called Biden's remarks 'desperate' and accused the president of 'projecting his own failures onto a successful leader'. Trump himself posted on his social media platform: 'Crooked Joe is a broken-down loser who has destroyed our economy. I won twice, he didn't.'
But for many in the Labour movement, Biden's tough talk is a welcome sign that the White House understands the stakes. 'People are fed up with politicians who treat politics like a game,' said Sarah Nelson, a factory worker in Liverpool. 'If Biden wants our votes, he needs to keep going after the real enemies: the billionaires and the policies that keep us down.'
As the campaign enters its final stretch, the language will only get sharper. But the question remains: can words about 'vanity projects' translate into bread-and-butter gains for those still waiting for the recovery to reach their kitchen tables?
