Former President Joe Biden delivered pointed criticism of President Donald Trump during the Maryland Democratic Party's inaugural Back & Win Summit and Gala on Saturday, June 27, centering his remarks on a series of controversial projects including the troubled renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
"What a loser," Biden, 83, told the crowd, according to social media footage shared by CBS News. "It's not just his vanity projects. Tearing down the East Wing of the White House. Making room for his ballroom. Putting his name on the Kennedy Center. Building an arch in his own honor. Even hiring his own pool guy to fix the Reflecting Pool."
The audience erupted in applause following the former president's summation. Biden continued his critique, stating, "Look, folks, it's not just that. The Reflecting Pool reflects something even worse than the narcissism and incompetence at the core of this administration. It's the corruption."
The remarks come amid ongoing scrutiny of President Trump's handling of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation. The 80-year-old president recently addressed the deterioration of the iconic body of water between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument following an estimated $15 million renovation he had ordered.
"We've cleaned, renovated, and beautified over 45 Monuments and Memorials, 28 Statues, and 22 Fountains in Washington, D.C.," President Trump wrote via his social media platform Truth Social on June 19. "However, we've had some real problems with vandalism at the beautiful Reflecting Pool. Just like three days ago, they destroyed the grass outside of the Pool, they've also done everything possible to hurt the inside surface that was just installed."
The renovation had originally been ordered to improve the pool's appearance, turning it "American flag blue" in time for the country's 250th birthday celebration. However, according to The New York Times, the pool appeared to have been "rejecting" the renovation, with the bottom of the pool peeling amid "chunks of coating." The outlet also noted that the peeling was a result of renovation attempts tackling an algae issue that turned what should be clear water into an acid-green shade.
Biden's speech also referenced the Kennedy Center controversy. According to NBC News, a Kennedy Center official revealed earlier this month that all references to the President have been removed from the venue "inside, outside and online" in compliance with a court order. The order was issued "six months after a board handpicked by the President voted to rebrand the iconic performing arts venue by adding his name to it," per the outlet.
The Maryland Democratic Party event provided Biden with a platform to articulate broader concerns about the current administration's approach to national landmarks and institutions. His remarks framed the Reflecting Pool renovation failure as emblematic of what he characterized as deeper issues of narcissism, incompetence, and corruption within the Trump administration.
About the Author
Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
