US President Joe Biden touted his Irish roots while criticizing former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for the 2024 US Presidential election, this week.
“Trump and his MAGA Republican friends want to cut the Affordable Care Act out completely,” Biden said while giving remarks about lowering the cost of prescription drugs at an event in New Hampshire on Wednesday, October 23.
“You know how many times they’ve introduced bills over the last three years to do that? 51 times. 51 times!
"He wants to replace the Affordable Care Act. We can’t let that happen.
“Look, he calls, he wants to replace this -" Biden says before shifting into a sarcastically exasperated tone.
"I love - I love this guy," the President said with a smile, prompting laughs.
"I’m trying to be a very good fella.
"I’m not letting my Irish get the best of me."
He continued: “But my predecessor, the distinguished former President [laughter] he wants to replace the Affordable Care Act with what he calls - this is what he refers to it - a 'concept of a plan.'
"I’ve heard that concept of a plan now for almost eight years.
"'A concept of a plan.' What the hell is a concept of a - he has no concept of anything! No plan.”
Biden, who stepped down from the 2024 US Presidential race in July, was referencing Trump's now infamous claim that he has "concepts of a plan" for healthcare.
"So, just a yes or no, you still do not have a plan?" moderator Linsey Davis asked Trump during his live, televised debate against Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris on September 10.
"I have concepts of a plan. I'm not President right now," Trump said in a response that made headlines.
Harris, meanwhile, says if elected, she "will expand and make permanent the tax credit enhancements for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans."
Gallup reported this month that nearly eight in 10 US registered voters say healthcare is an extremely (37%) or very important (42%) issue to their vote in this year’s presidential election.
This week wasn't the first time Biden leaned into his Irish roots while criticizing Trump.
At a campaign event in February, the President brought up how Trump reportedly called American WWII veterans "suckers" and "losers."
“I’m — got to hold my Irish temper," Biden, whose late son Beau was a veteran, said at the time.
"I’m glad I wasn’t with him because I’m not sure what I’d have done.
“He said they’re all a bunch of 'suckers' and 'losers.'
“My son was not a sucker, nor were any of yours.
"Who does this guy think he is talking about Americans like that?”
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