Joe Biden faces backlash after accusing Donald Trump of inheriting wealth during address to union workers

WASHINGTON, DC: In an address to union workers at a Washington, DC conference hosted by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) on Friday, April 19, President Joe Biden took direct aim at former President Donald Trump, contrasting their vastly different paths to wealth.

Biden’s speech targeted Trump's privileged beginnings, his reality TV persona, and his tax history, all while championing his own upbringing in working-class communities like Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware.

Biden contrasts his upbringing with Trump's

"Some folks learn very different lessons growing up than you and I did," remarked Biden, implicitly referencing Trump. "They learn, and my opponent learned, that the best way to get rich is to inherit it. I can’t argue much with them but, eh—"

Trump's business ventures began with a $1 million loan from his father, Fred Trump.

“They learn that paying taxes is for working people, not the super wealthy. They learn that telling people you’re fired is something to be laughed at. Not where I come from. Not where I was raised,” Biden said.

The 81-year-old POTUS also pointed out Trump’s reality TV tenure, during which he became known for his catchphrase "You're fired!", as emblematic of a detached view of the challenges faced by working-class families.

“I guess that’s how they look at the world from Park Avenue and Mar-a-Lago, but I grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware. Working-class and middle-class towns like many of you did as well,” Biden told the union workers.

“Nobody handed you anything, you paid your taxes, and being told you were fired wasn’t entertainment, it was a devastating nightmare to a family,” he added.

The president stressed the significance of humble beginnings, contrasting it with the opulence of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

"Folks, where we come from, it matters," Biden asserted. "That’s why when I look at the economy, I don’t see it through the eyes of Mar-a-Lago, I literally see it through the eyes of Scranton, where I grew up and my grandpop’s kitchen table,” the president said. “I see it through the eyes of working people like you and the basic values that you represent — honesty, decency, hard work, faith. It matters.”

However, it's worth noting that Biden himself is worth about $10 million, according to Forbes.

Biden’s outreach to union workers is strategic, aimed at reclaiming the support of blue-collar voters who had begun shifting towards the Republican Party in recent years.

This demographic played a crucial role in Trump’s victory in states like Michigan in 2016, which Biden managed to win back in 2020.

Highlighting his pro-union stance, Biden recalled his track record of backing labor movements, such as standing alongside auto workers on a picket line last year. He reiterated his dedication to tackling income inequality through proposed initiatives like the "billionaire minimum income tax," which aims to target the wealthiest Americans.

This tax initiative poses a direct challenge to figures like Trump, who have faced scrutiny over their tax payments. While Trump has cited business losses and tax credits to justify his minimal tax contributions, Biden contrasts his own tax history, having disclosed over two decades of returns, The Hill reported.

Social media backlash

However, Biden’s critique of Trump's wealth inheritance sparked quite a backlash on social media, with some questioning the former's own financial gains and accusing him of corruption.

"How did Biden gain his? oh..," one user posted on X.

"That's a good one! Biden has been stealing his wealth from the American taxpayers for decades! He's the Commander in Thief!" another quipped.

"Because becoming a millionaire by peddling influence is so much more moral," someone else chimed in.

"I'll take inheriting it over stealing it any day," a comment read.

"The only reason this man is rich is because of politics. Tell me how you get to his net worth at a salary of 400,000 or less?" another offered.

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