According to The Hill, on Labor Day, President Biden delivered a speech in Philadelphia where he criticized former President Trump’s record on jobs and benefits during his administration. Standing before members of the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 19 at the annual Tri-State Labor Day Parade, President Biden passionately addressed the crowd.
He began by contrasting his administration’s job performance with that of his predecessor, stating that when Trump left office, the country had fewer jobs than when he first took office. He pointed out the shift from shipping jobs to China during the previous administration to bringing jobs back to the United States under his leadership. President Biden also highlighted his efforts in safeguarding pensions and credited the people in attendance for their role in saving millions of pensions.
Drawing a geographical distinction, he emphasized that he views the world from the perspective of towns like Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware, rather than the more affluent Park Avenue.
The President’s speech had a campaign-like atmosphere, with him energetically pacing the stage behind signs reading “union strong,” surrounded by attendees holding signs declaring their support for unions and the USA.
“The guy who held this job before me was just one of two presidents in history … left office with fewer jobs in America than when he got elected office.
When the last guy was here, you were shipping jobs to China. Now we’re bringing jobs home from China,” Biden said. “When the last guy was here, your pensions were at risk; we helped save millions of pensions with your help.”
“When the last guy was here, he looked at the world from Park Avenue. I look at it from Scranton, Penn., I look at it from Claymont, Del. Not a joke,” he said.
President Biden referenced the recent jobs report, which indicated the addition of 187,000 jobs in August and a slight rise in the unemployment rate to 3.8 percent. He highlighted his administration’s fiscal achievements, including reducing the deficit and debt by $1.7 trillion, attributing this accomplishment to making the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes.
Expressing his concern about the tax rates of billionaires in the U.S., he pointed out that many of them pay only 8 percent in federal taxes, which he considered lower than what many in the parade audience likely pay.
Even with what we’ve done — unlike the last president — in my first two years, all this stuff, guess what? I cut the deficit $1.7 trillion. Cut the debt $1.7 trillion,” Biden said. “One of the ways I was able to invest in you and still bring down the deficit was I started making people pay their fair share.
You pay enough. It’s time for big corporations and the very wealthy to start paying their fair share.
“I’ll tell you what, someone said you know, that Biden he’s getting old, man,” the president said about people like Trump ripping his age. “The only thing that comes with age is a little bit of wisdom. I’ve been doing this longer than anybody, and guess what? I’m going to continue to do it with your help.
I’m proud to say union. I’m proud to be the most pro-union president, according to the experts, in American history,” he said. He added that he’s been referred to as “middle-class Joe” throughout his political career.
Addressing questions about his age, President Biden, at 80 years old, asserted that age has brought wisdom and experience to his role. He emphasized his commitment to continuing in his position with the support of the American people.
President Trump, who is 77 years old, remains a prominent figure within the GOP, and recent polls show him leading in popularity among potential Republican candidates for the 2024 presidential election, setting the stage for a possible rematch of the 2020 election.
President Biden reiterated his claim of being the most pro-union president in American history and embraced the nickname “middle-class Joe” that has followed him throughout his political career. He also urged Congress to pass the PRO Act, legislation aimed at strengthening workers’ rights and protections against employer violations and retaliation.
