Biden's Re-election Rally in Pennsylvania: Contrasting Himself with Trump

President Joe Biden brought his campaign for a second term to Pennsylvania, a key battleground state. He highlighted the differences between himself and his predecessor in what was essentially his first rally for the 2024 general election.

His speech in the Philadelphia suburbs was a condensed version of the State of the Union address he delivered the night before. However, there were some significant changes. Unlike his State of the Union address, Biden openly mentioned his predecessor and potential 2024 opponent by name during his speech on Friday.

Biden addressed the crowd on Friday, expressing concern about Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans attempting to limit our freedoms. He emphasized that this was not an exaggeration. The president assured the audience that they would not allow Trump to succeed in his efforts.

During his Friday remarks, Biden criticized the former president by name multiple times. He condemned Trump for his involvement in overturning Roe v. Wade, the $2 trillion tax cut he implemented during his presidency, and his recent remarks suggesting that Putin should have free rein over NATO member countries who fail to meet their funding commitments.

Biden expressed his disbelief in Trump's admiration for Putin, stating, "He thinks Putin is a strong — basically, he’s a decent guy."

Biden mentioned Trump's recent meeting with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at Mar-a-Lago. He pointed out that Orbán has openly expressed his belief that democracy does not work and is in favor of a dictatorship.

Biden mentioned who he is meeting with and expressed his vision of defending democracy instead of weakening it. In his speech, he also talked about the State of the Union address that took place on Thursday night. Additionally, he referred to the intense discussion he had with GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene the night before.

Biden addressed the crowd, mentioning that if they were tired, they probably watched his speech the previous night. He acknowledged the warm reception he received from Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

During the address, Greene urged Biden to mention the name of Laken Riley, a nursing student who was reportedly killed by an undocumented immigrant. Greene and other Republicans have pointed fingers at Biden's border policies for Riley's tragic death. In response, Biden displayed a pin with Riley's name that Greene had presented to him as he made his way through the House Chamber.

He mentioned Riley's name, even though he seemed to stumble over her first name. He also shared about his own experiences with grief, having lost two of his children.

During his speech on Friday, a passionate Biden portrayed the 2024 election as a choice between those who want to return to the past and those who aim to push America forward into the future.

"My life experiences have taught me the importance of looking towards the future with optimism. I truly believe in a future that upholds the fundamental values that America stands for: honesty, decency, fairness, and equality," he expressed. "While we may not always meet these standards, they are at the core of the American identity. On the contrary, Donald Trump's perspective is focused on resentment, revenge, and retribution."

Biden shared that he stayed up until 2 a.m. to follow the coverage and reactions to his State of the Union address from the White House.

Biden received praise from Democrats for his speech to the nation on Thursday, but some within his party were upset by certain comments he made and others he left out. He called the suspect accused of murdering Riley "an illegal" and did not bring up the topic of abortion.

Before heading to Pennsylvania on Friday, Biden spoke to the press and stood by his choice to label the man arrested for Riley's murder as "illegal."

"He mentioned that technically, he shouldn't be here, but he doesn't regret it," he shared.

He also made a joke about a moment caught on a hot mic after his speech. Biden was overheard talking to a lawmaker about increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. In the conversation, he mentioned telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that they would need to have a "come to Jesus meeting."

On Friday, when asked if he had watched GOP Sen. Katie Britt's response to his speech, Biden mentioned that he had seen clips. He shared, "I just caught a glimpse on TV. I thought she was quite talented. However, I found it challenging to grasp the connections she was drawing."

CNN’s Donald Judd and MJ Lee contributed.

Editor's P/S:

President Biden's speech in Pennsylvania marked a significant shift in his rhetoric, signaling the start of his campaign for the 2024 general election. By openly criticizing his predecessor, Donald Trump, and the MAGA Republicans, Biden drew a clear line between his vision for the country and what he perceived as a threat to American democracy. The speech was a passionate defense of American values, emphasizing the importance of honesty, decency, and equality. Biden's emphasis on looking towards the future and pushing America forward contrasted with what he described as Trump's focus on resentment and revenge.

Biden's speech also addressed some of the criticisms he had faced from within his own party. He defended his use of the term "illegal" to describe the suspect in the murder of Laken Riley, and he expressed regret for not mentioning abortion in his State of the Union address. These responses reflected his efforts to balance the concerns of different Democratic constituencies while maintaining his focus on the upcoming election.