US President Donald Trump continues to mention his predecessor Joe Biden extensively in his speeches, statements, and social media posts, as the midterm elections approach. According to a review by Reuters, Trump has mentioned Biden at least 890 times since January 1, 2026, in around 200 events, interviews, and nearly 190 posts on his social media platform, Truth Social. This averages to approximately three mentions per day, covering topics such as the economy, immigration, foreign policy, and national security.
The economy and immigration have been the most prominent issues in Trump's criticism of Biden. The economy has been mentioned 210 times, with Trump blaming the Democratic administration for the ongoing rise in prices and living costs. He made reducing prices a key promise during his election campaign. In a Truth Social post, Trump stated that the rising prices in the US were caused by the Biden administration, attempting to shift the responsibility for the cost-of-living crisis to the previous administration.
During Biden's presidency, there was a significant increase in inflation, which exceeded 9% in 2022, due to supply chain disruptions after the COVID-19 pandemic, rising energy and food prices following the Russian-Ukrainian war, and the economic stimulus policies implemented by the administration. However, the ongoing high cost of living during Trump's second term has kept the economic issue at the forefront of voters' concerns, making it a key topic in the midterm elections.
Immigration is the second most frequently mentioned topic in Trump's criticism of Biden, with at least 168 mentions. Trump repeatedly accuses the previous administration of causing the surge in migrants at the US-Mexico border, while presenting his current policies on border control and deportation as a response to what he describes as Biden's legacy. Biden has also been mentioned 138 times in the context of foreign policy and national security, including the conflict with Iran, the war in Ukraine, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, and relations with China.
In the Iranian dossier, Trump accused the Biden administration of not taking sufficient action against Tehran, and criticized the Iranian nuclear agreement reached in 2015 during the Obama administration, when Biden was Vice President. Regarding Ukraine, Trump blamed Biden for part of the shortage in US ammunition stocks, saying that large quantities of weapons and ammunition were sent to Kyiv during the Biden administration. These criticisms come as the Trump administration faces political and economic pressures related to the conflict with Iran.
Trump's criticism of Biden has extended beyond policy issues to personal aspects, with the President questioning Biden's mental abilities and criticizing his use of an "autopen" to sign official documents. During an Easter event at the White House in April, Trump discussed Biden's use of the autopen and displayed a picture of Biden in a presentation for visitors near the Rose Garden, referring to the former President. This occurs as Biden, 83, has largely withdrawn from public political activity, facing a challenging health phase after being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.
Some Republican strategists believe that Trump's mention of Biden allows him to shift the discussion towards the performance of the previous administration, rather than focusing solely on his own record. However, others argue that the focus on the past does not help the party in the midterm elections, and that Trump needs to defend his own record to support his party.
Key points
- Trump has mentioned Biden at least 890 times since January 1, 2026.
- The economy and immigration are the most frequently mentioned topics in Trump's criticism of Biden.
- Trump's criticism of Biden extends beyond policy issues to personal aspects.
