Former President Donald Trump tore into President Joe Biden for coughing at least 20 times Thursday evening during his State of the Union address before shaking hands with congressional members later.
Throughout Biden’s speech, the president could be heard and seen repeatedly coughing. On multiple occasions, Biden used his right hand to cover his mouth while apologizing for his cough. While many people tuned in to watch the president’s anticipated address, Trump announced this week that he would be live reacting to the address. (RELATED: Biden Focuses On Issues Americans Care Least About In Biggest Speech Of Presidency)
The former president took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to post his unfiltered reactions to Biden’s speech. Roughly midway through the State of the Union address, Trump called out Biden’s noticeable cough.
“DON’T SHAKE PEOPLE’S HANDS GOING OUT – HE KEEPS COUGHING INTO HIS RIGHT HAND!” Trump posted. “See, as he’s getting ready to cough yet again into his right hand, the Fake News Media rushes him off the screen!”
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) March 8, 2024
Before ending his address, Biden called for congressional members and the American people to “build” a future “together” and thanked everyone in the audience. Immediately after, Biden could be seen turning around and shaking hands with Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson before moving on to a handful of congressional members.
“Above all, I see a future for all Americans. I see a country for all Americans. And I’ll always be president for all Americans because I believe in America. I believe in you, the American people. You’re the reason we’ve never been more optimistic about our future than I am now. So let’s build the future together. Let’s remember who we are. We are the United States of America! And there is nothing, nothing beyond our capacity when we act together. God bless you all and may God protect our troops. Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Biden stated.
The former president continued to call out Biden within his reaction posts, claiming the discrepancies he heard through the president’s speech. Trump notably stated that that the address was a “sad excuse,” posting a three-minute video laying out his argument against Biden’s policies.