Biden criticizes Trump in some of his most pointed remarks since leaving office, using a Maryland fundraiser Saturday night to portray his successor as vain, corrupt, and unfit. The speech marked a notable moment for the former president, who delivered it exactly two years after a disastrous debate that reshaped his political future.

A Blistering Critique

Speaking to Maryland Democrats at a state party fundraiser held at a casino, Joe Biden unloaded on the man who replaced him in the White House. He took aim at what he called Trump’s vanity projects, ticking off a list that included tearing down the East Wing of the White House to build a ballroom, attaching his name to the Kennedy Center, constructing an arch in his own honor, and even hiring a personal pool guy to fix the reflecting pool. Biden capped the rundown with a blunt verdict, calling Trump a loser.

His criticism went beyond mockery. Biden argued that the reflecting pool reflected something worse than narcissism and incompetence, pointing instead to what he described as brazen and blatant corruption on a scale never before seen in American history.

The former president also voiced anger over Trump’s reported desire to compensate those involved in the January 6th attack. Biden insisted that such individuals deserved not payment but lengthy prison sentences, drawing a sharp contrast with the administration’s approach.

A Symbolic Anniversary

The timing of the 10-minute speech carried weight. Biden delivered his remarks two years to the day after he stood on stage for a CNN presidential debate against Trump, a performance that derailed his second-term ambitions and altered the trajectory of his political legacy. Returning to the attack on that anniversary underscored how far his post-presidency has come, and how much remains unresolved.

Navigating a Complicated Post-Presidency

Since leaving office, Biden has remained willing to criticize Trump and has accepted invitations to Democratic events in Maryland, South Dakota, and his home state of Delaware over the past month. His goal has been to rally a party out of power during Trump’s second term.

Yet his efforts unfold against a difficult backdrop. Many Democrats remain frustrated with how he handled the 2024 election, and his standing with the public has suffered. A recent CNN poll found that only 30 percent of Americans held a favorable view of Biden, lower than at any point during his presidency.

A Family Back in the Spotlight

Adding to the complexity, the Biden family has reemerged on the political scene in ways that have unsettled some Democrats. Former first lady Dr. Jill Biden released a memoir and launched a promotional tour offering her perspective on the 2024 saga, a move that reopened old wounds for party members hoping to move on.

The tension spilled into public view:

• Former Biden spokesperson Andrew Bates questioned the wisdom of publicly revisiting such a painful chapter, telling the New York Post that Democrats had a duty to win and failed.
• Dr. Biden fired back at a Washington book tour stop, challenging Bates to say it to her face, a response that drew criticism from former aides.

The two reportedly spoke the following day. Meanwhile, the Bidens’ son Hunter has become a constant presence, amassing more than 800,000 followers on X and sharing candid posts about his past addiction struggles and political views. He has sat for lengthy podcast interviews, including a two-hour conversation with right-wing commentator Candace Owens.

In an appearance on Governor Gavin Newsom’s podcast, Hunter Biden spoke frankly about his father’s decision to pardon him despite earlier pledges not to. He said his father chose him over his legacy, acknowledging that the pardon would likely be among the first things written about Biden’s presidency.

Shaping a Legacy Amid Health Struggles

Biden’s attention to his legacy may grow sharper in the months ahead. He has spent much of the year working on a memoir, though no release date has been announced. His presidential library has gotten off to a slower start than those of his predecessors. While he confirmed it will be located in Delaware, an official site has yet to be revealed, with sources suggesting details could be finalized soon. The eventual library is expected to be far smaller than Barack Obama’s $850 million center in Chicago.

All of this has unfolded as the 83-year-old battles prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. He has been undergoing radiation and hormone therapy since his diagnosis, which came months after he left office. Dr. Jill Biden recently told NBC that she believes her husband will live with cancer for the rest of his life.

Still Fighting for the Party

Despite the pessimism from some corners of his party, Biden has continued looking for ways to be useful. In recent weeks, he endorsed two former administration officials ahead of their primaries: Keisha Lance Bottoms, running for governor in Georgia, and Dan Koh, a congressional candidate in Massachusetts.

At Saturday’s event, Biden mingled with Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Senator Chris Van Hollen, both viewed as potential 2028 presidential contenders. Moore introduced Biden warmly, recalling how the former president directed millions in federal aid to the state following the 2024 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Moore credited Biden not just with helping rebuild but with helping the city heal, praising him as embodying what it means to be Maryland tough and Baltimore strong.

Not everyone shared unqualified enthusiasm. Baltimore Democrat Adrienne Green, who met Biden before his speech, said she was thrilled to meet him and thought he was doing well for his age, but added that both parties had reached a point where the torch needed to be passed to new leaders.

Others remain firmly in his corner. Democratic Representative Sarah McBride of Delaware, who checks in with Biden regularly, argued that the party needs an all-hands-on-deck approach that includes the voices of seasoned leaders like Biden and Obama.

Closing his remarks with characteristic energy, Biden insisted he was still fighting for the party and urged the crowd not to give up. He delivered a rousing call to action, telling Democrats to get up and continue the fight, a message met with applause from the room.