Former US president Joe Biden launched one of his bluntest critiques yet of Donald Trump at a Democratic Party fundraiser on Saturday, labelling his successor “a loser” over what he called “vanity projects” in Washington DC. Speaking at the gala in Hanover, Maryland, Biden listed Trump’s plans to demolish parts of the White House East Wing to build a ballroom, add his name to the Kennedy Center, construct an arch in his own honour, and even hire his own “pool guy” to fix the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
“It’s not just his vanity projects, tearing down the East Wing of the White House making room for his ballroom, putting his name on the Kennedy Center, building an arch in his own honour, even hiring his own pool guy to fix the Reflecting Pool,” Biden said. “Woah! What a loser.”
“Biden slammed Trump as a 'loser' over $400m ballroom plans and Reflecting Pool woes at a Maryland fundraiser.”
The attack comes as Trump’s approval rating drops to just 30% — the lowest figure recorded in his second term — and confidence in the US economy has weakened among even his supporters. Trump has defended his $400m (£300m) East Wing Modernization Project, claiming it is necessary for national security and to host state guests. The plan replaces the historic 90,000-square-foot East Wing with a 1,000-capacity ballroom.
Trump also spent $14.7m to re-colour and restore the Reflecting Pool, which became plagued with algae growth. The president blamed vandalism, and the National Parks Service echoed that claim. A Trump donor — a neighbour of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida — was awarded a $1.7m no-bid filtration system contract by the federal government. Biden called this “corruption on a scale never seen before in American history”.
Biden also criticised Trump’s defence of his supporters who stormed the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. “What makes me angry is that Trump wants to give taxpayers’ money, your money, to the January 6th insurrectionists,” Biden said, referring to the Trump administration’s attempt to compensate individuals claiming unfair investigation — later dropped and blocked by a judge.
Trump has not directly responded to Biden’s comments but previously called him a “crooked politician” on Truth Social and applied his “sleepy Joe Biden” nickname in an unrelated post on Monday. The BBC has contacted the White House for a response.
Biden’s remarks came exactly two years after a disastrous debate performance against Trump that ultimately led to Vice-President Kamala Harris replacing him in the 2024 race.