President Joe Biden took aim at former President Donald Trump with many verbal attacks during Thursday's State of the Union speech.
Biden, who appears headed to a 2024 election rematch against Trump, never mentioned the former president by name. He simply cited "my predecessor" many times.
Biden, in trying to appeal to women voters, blamed Trump for the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and returning abortion rights to the states. While in office, Trump nominated three conservative justices to the high court.
"My predecessor came to office determined to see Roe v. Wade overturned," Biden said. "He's the reason it was overturned. And he brags about it. Look at the chaos that has resulted."
Biden brought up the recent bipartisan Senate border security bill, which failed to pass in the chamber and was considered "dead on arrival" in the House by Speaker Mike Johnson.
"I'm told my predecessor called members of Congress and the Senate to demand they block the bill," Biden said. "He feels, political win — he viewed it would be a political win for me and a political loser for him. It's not about him. It's not about me. I'd be a winner, not really.
"And if my predecessor is watching instead of playing politics and pressuring members of Congress to block the bill, join me in telling the Congress to pass it."
Conservatives have said the bipartisan bill was not tough enough to stop the massive influx of illegal migrants at the southern border.
"Unlike my predecessor, on my first day in office, I introduced a comprehensive bill to fix our immigration system," Biden said. "Take a look at it. It has all these and more: secure the border, provide a pathway to citizenship for 'dreamers' and so much more.
"But unlike my predecessor, I know who we are as Americans."
While talking about the need to support Ukraine in its war against Russia, Biden accused Trump of "bowing down" to Russia President Vladimir Putin.
"My predecessor, a former Republican president, tells Putin, quote, 'Do whatever the hell you want,'" Biden said. "That's a quote. A former president actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader. I think it's outrageous, it's dangerous, and it's unacceptable."
Biden claimed his administration is "standing up against" China economically and has "revitalized our partnerships and alliance in the Pacific. India. Australia. Japan. South Korea. Pacific islands. ... "Frankly, for all his tough talk on China, it never occurred to my predecessor to do any of that."
Biden also discussed the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack by "insurrectionists."
"My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about Jan. 6," Biden said to the members of Congress in attendance. "I will not do that. This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Here's the simple truth: You can't love your country only when you win."
The mainstream media and some Democrats are trying to convince U.S. voters that Trump, the defendant in four separate criminal trials, would focus on retribution in a second term.
"Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are the oldest of ideas," Biden said. "But you can't lead America with ancient ideas. It'll only take us back."
While discussing gun violence, Biden said "my predecessor told the NRA [National Rifle Association] he's proud he did nothing on guns when he was president. Oof."
Biden criticized Trump over his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, though Biden failed to mention that the former president played a major role in the development of the eventual vaccines.
"My predecessor failed the most basic presidential duty that he owes to the American people, the duty to care," Biden said. "I think that's unforgivable."
During his speech, Biden appealed to supporters of Obamacare.
"Over 100 million of you can no longer be denied health insurance because of a preexisting condition," the president said, "but my predecessor and many in this chamber want to take those prescription drugs away by repealing the Affordable Care Act."
Ironically, Biden stated a MAGA-type approach to U.S. jobs and products.
"Instead of importing foreign products and exporting American jobs, we're exporting American products and creating American jobs, right here in America where they belong," said Biden, who claimed "consumer confidence is soaring" and "buy America" has been the law of the land since the 1930s.
"Past administrations, including my predecessor, including some Democrats as well in the past, failed to buy American," he said.