Donald Trump Mocks Joe Biden With New Impression

President Donald Trump once again made headlines for his remarks about his predecessor, Joe Biden, this time during a speech at the Detroit Economic Club on January 13, 2026. The president appeared eager to draw a contrast between himself and the current president, taking jabs at Biden’s speaking style while also inventing a new impersonation of him in front of a cheering crowd.

Trump, 79, told the audience he often speaks off-script — claiming he deviates from a teleprompter “about 80% of the time” — and suggested that was something people should appreciate. “Isn’t it nice to have a president that can go off teleprompter, don’t you think?” he asked, eliciting laughs and applause from supporters.

Trump Offers an Impersonation and Ridicule

During his remarks, Trump launched into what he called a Joe Biden impression, imitating the way the 83-year-old president might deliver a speech. In his exaggerated imitation, Trump mimicked some of Biden’s vocal mannerisms and made reference to Biden’s past struggle with a childhood stutter before blurting out “Thank you very much” in a raspy tone.

Trump also teased Biden for allegedly coughing before speeches, suggesting it was something the public may have noticed, and joked about the length and perceived quality of past Biden speeches, claiming they were often very short.

The performance was clearly meant to entertain his supporters, but it continued a pattern of personal and public ridicule that Trump has repeatedly aimed at the current president.

Ongoing Personal Attacks from Trump

These remarks in Michigan weren’t isolated. Just days earlier, in a televised interview with The New York Times, Trump repeatedly brought up Biden by name, saying, “I think Joe Biden is the worst thing that ever happened to old people.” That comment drew national attention and reflected how central attacks on Biden’s age and fitness have become in Trump’s public messaging.

Trump’s broader campaign has included other symbolic digs, such as altering the Presidential Walk of Fame at the White House to remove Biden’s portrait and replace it with an image of a piece of paper marked “Autopen,” mocking Biden’s use of an automatic signature device.

Why This Matters

Trump’s dig at teleprompters isn’t just personal ridicule — it’s part of a long-running narrative he and many of his allies have used to question Biden’s cognition and leadership style. Throughout political discourse, Republican strategists have used Biden’s reliance on scripted remarks or teleprompter use as a talking point to imply weakness or lack of spontaneity.

Teleprompters are common tools for modern presidents and public figures, but Trump’s framing casts speaking without one as a sign of strength and authenticity — even as critics note that Biden has publicly insisted on the value of precision and clarity in speeches. ›

The back-and-forth over scripted versus unscripted remarks illustrates not just political theatre but a deeper part of how each side wants voters to perceive presidential competence and style.

Reaction and Fallout

Reactions were predictable along partisan lines. On social media platforms and in conservative commentary circles, Trump’s jokes were celebrated as sharp political barbs. Left-leaning commentators and Biden supporters criticized the impersonation as mean-spirited and dismissive, especially given Biden’s long history of public service and the sensitivity around his age. Discussions on social platforms also reopened debates about the broader trends of mocking leaders for physical traits, health, or speaking style — an ongoing cultural flashpoint in American politics.

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