Biden on Trump: “What in the Hell Is He Talking About?”

Speaking at Drexel today, Joe Biden ripped apart Donald Trump's debate performance.

Joe Biden speaks in Drexel's grand court

Photo | Dan McQuade

“What in the hell is he talking about?”

That was Joe Biden’s summary of Donald Trump’s performance at last night’s presidential debate. Biden spoke at Drexel University’s Grand Court this morning to stump for Hillary Clinton and encourage students to register to vote.

While Clinton attacked Trump for cheering on the housing crisis, Trump interjected by saying: “That’s called business, by the way.”

Biden had harsh words for Trump’s debate performance. “It was good business for him to see the housing market fail,” Biden said. “What in the hell is he talking about? No, no, no, no: I’ve been here for eight presidents … every president I have served with, including the Republicans, has had a moral center, about what it means to be an American. I mean it! Think about it. Can you imagine Ronald Reagan saying, ‘It’s good business to take advantage of people’s misery’? And rooting for that misery! I’m not kidding. What does it say about this man? And he wants to be president of the United States of America! He does not have the basic fundamental sensibilities and values that almost every American politician, left right and center, has.”

“When you’re sitting on top of Trump Tower, in a semi-golden palace,” Biden said, “it’s not a joke. What do you care about people that I grew up with in Claymont … or in South Philly, or in the west side. What do you think? Do you think that you should brag about profiting on their misery? I don’t know why people aren’t talking more about this. People like my mom and dad, who busted their necks their whole lives, worked and worked and worked, saved for retirement because they didn’t want to be a burden. I know I’m called Middle Class Joe, and in Washington that’s not a compliment because I’m not supposed to be sophisticated. But let me tell you who built this damn country.”

Biden went in even deeper on Trump later in his speech. “He brags about gaming the system and bankruptcy, leaving hardworking people holding the bag!” he said. “How many people has he stiffed? He didn’t say, ‘I didn’t stiff anybody.’ He said, ‘Maybe they didn’t do what I wanted.’ Five times he’s declared bankruptcy! Your mom and dad declare bankruptcy, try to get a loan in the next five, 10, 15 years. That’s the rigged system — he’s part of it!”

Biden was introduced by Giva Ann Wilkerson, a native Philadelphian who is a voter registration volunteer with the Clinton campaign. U.S. Senate candidate Katie McGinty and U.S. House candidate Dwight Evans also spoke before him.

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