In a fiery Labor Day speech to Pennsylvania sheet metal workers, President Joe Biden emphasized his administration's commitment to infrastructure and took a swipe at former President Donald Trump's track record, stating that the "last guy" didn't "build a damn thing."
Biden highlighted that during Trump's term in office, "infrastructure week" became a "punchline," often used to mock Trump's unfulfilled promises. By contrast, under Biden's leadership, infrastructure has taken center stage, with substantial investment and the signing of a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal into law in 2021 that laid the foundation for critical projects aimed at shaping the nation's future.
Biden never had to mention Trump by name—he was clear enough.
You can hear what Biden said in the video below.
Biden said:
“Guess what? The great real estate builder, the last guy, he didn’t build a damn thing. Under my predecessor, infrastructure week became a punchline. On my watch, infrastructure has been a decade, and it’s a headline.”
The guy who held this job before me was just one of two presidents in history ... who left office with fewer jobs in America than when he got elected to office. By the way, you know who the other one was? Herbert Hoover. Isn’t that kind of coincidental?”
Biden's speech also focused on the strength of the American economy, contrasting it with the narrative presented by his political opponents.
He noted that some critics consistently portray America as failing, but he fervently disagreed, asserting that the nation currently boasts the world's "strongest economy":
“All I hear from my friends on the other side is what they say is wrong with America. They keep telling us America’s failing. They’re wrong."
"I’ve got news for them: America has the strongest economy in the world right now, today.”
Many concurred with Biden's assessment.
This isn't the first time Biden has criticized his predecessor on the topic of infrastructure.
In April 2021, he questioned the frequency of "Infrastructure Week" announcements during the Trump administration, suggesting that while it was often declared, little actual infrastructure development took place.
Biden has continued to tout his infrastructure accomplishments in recent weeks in a bid to shore up his union base. A recent Emerson College poll showed that he and Trump are headed toward a close 2024 presidential rematch given their major lead in party primary races.
