Biden chokes up remembering Beau Biden while ripping Trump's reported 'suckers' and 'losers' comments about veterans

Source: CNN Politics

Updated 5:37 PM EDT, Fri September 6, 2024


CNN — President Joe Biden choked up and had to take a moment to gather his thoughts while remembering his late son, Beau Biden, on Friday in Michigan – telling a crowd that he misses his child while harkening back to comments former President Donald Trump reportedly made about American war dead.

Speaking about his administration’s economic agenda in Ann Arbor Friday, Biden described the United States as the “indispensable nation in the world,” contrasting his view with Trump’s repeated descriptions of the country as a failing nation. He then referenced comments Trump reportedly made in France when he was president in 2018.

“He refused to visit (an) American cemetery in France – that I was just near – because, according to his own chief of staff – a four-star Marine general – Trump said those servicemen buried there are ‘suckers’ and ‘losers,’” Biden said. Trump has repeatedly denied making those comments, but his former chief of staff, retired Marine Gen. John Kelly, has said he did so. Kelly’s son was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010

“My son died because of –, ” Biden said before pausing and appearing to get choked up, “a year in Iraq.” Beau Biden died from brain cancer in 2015, which his dad has said was a consequence of serving near military burn pits during his time in the service.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/06/politics/biden-remembers-beau-biden-while-criticizing-trump-veterans-comments/index.html