At a Glance
- Donald Trump mimicked Joe Biden’s speech patterns during a Michigan rally
- He claimed Biden’s speeches were brief and ridiculed his mannerisms
- The White House Colonnade now displays an “Autopen” photo instead of Biden’s portrait
- Why it matters: The episode shows Trump continuing to target his predecessor as a rally tactic
Donald Trump revived his mockery of Joe Biden while addressing supporters at the Detroit Economic Club, poking fun at the former president’s speaking style and reviving long-running criticisms.
Trump’s On-Stage Impression
Midway through the January 13 event, Trump told the crowd he frequently ditches his teleprompter.
> “You know, when you go up here, you take a big chance,” he said. “Especially me because I go off teleprompter about 80% of the time.”
Audience members cheered, prompting him to pivot to Biden.
> “Remember the speeches Joe would make? First of all, they’d last a matter of seconds, you know.”
Trump then adopted a raspy whisper, imitating Biden concluding an address: “Thank you very much.”
Coughing and Drug Claims
The former president claimed Biden always “coughed before a speech.” He simulated the cough and alleged that during one State of the Union, Biden was “high as a kite” and “floating.”
> “He was up there way up,” Trump said, adding Biden “got through it-if you call it getting through it.”
Portrait Replaced by Pen
Since September, the Presidential Walk of Fame along the White House Colonnade has featured:
- A framed image of a pen on paper labeled “Autopen”
- Years of Biden’s term listed underneath
- No photograph of the 46th president
A nearby plaque accuses Biden of overseeing “the highest Inflation ever recorded” and calls him “the worst President in American History.”
A second plaque alleges Biden was “dominated by his Radical Left handlers” who, along with “Fake News Media,” covered up “his severe mental decline” and “unprecedented use of the Autopen.”
Repeated Rhetorical Attacks
- In a recent New York Times interview, Trump reportedly mentioned Biden “repeatedly”
- He labeled Biden “the worst thing that ever happened to old people”
- The Detroit appearance marks at least the second public event in a week where Trump targeted his predecessor
Key Takeaways
- Trump continues using Biden as a foil at rallies, pairing policy critiques with personal mimicry
- Visual digs-like swapping the Colonnade portrait-extend the narrative beyond speeches
- The approach energizes supporters but keeps focus on a defeated opponent rather than current policy debates
