President Donald Trump has reignited his campaign vigor in Michigan, a key battleground state, by highlighting his policy achievements and taking aim at Joe Biden. Speaking at the Detroit Economic Club on Tuesday, Trump, who was scheduled to discuss economic issues, shifted focus to his predecessor. “Did you ever notice Joe would cough before his speech?” Trump inquired, mimicking Biden’s cough with exaggerated guttural sounds, a signature move in his rhetorical toolkit.

Reflecting on Biden’s final State of the Union address in 2024, Trump claimed, “One time they had him spruced up pretty good. He was high as a kite. He was floating. He was up there, way up. That was a bad speech.” Trump further criticized the 83-year-old former president for his soft-spoken, mumbling delivery during his last year before stepping down from reelection. Boasting his own ability to stray from scripted speeches, the 79-year-old Trump quipped, “I go off teleprompter 80 percent of the time. Isn’t it nice to have a president who can go off teleprompter?” Along with critiquing Biden’s age and speaking style, Trump emphasized the contrast between their economic policies.

“In four years under Biden, they secured less than $1 trillion of new investments in the U.S.,” Trump asserted. “In less than one year, I have secured commitments for over $18 trillion dollars from across the globe—the most ever for any country.” He continued, “After real wages plummeted by $3,000 under sleepy Joe Biden, real wages are up by $1,300 in less than a year under President Trump. For construction workers, wages are up $1,800… factory workers, over $2,000—and for many other workers, over $5,000!” The event bore all the hallmarks of a classic Trump campaign rally.

The president walked out on stage to Lee Greenwood’s ‘God Bless the USA’ while swaying with a smile. And he exited to another favorite, the Village People’s ‘YMCA,’ to which he did his famous fist-pumping dance. Lasting about 45 minutes, his remarks veered from touting his economic and domestic victories to his foreign policy objectives. ‘Inflation is defeated,’ Trump declared after a recent print showed the rate at 2.7 percent.

The Federal Reserve typically aims to keep inflation at 2 percent year over year, though that figure has steadily declined since it peaked at 9 percent under Biden in June 2022. ‘That jerk will be gone soon,’ the president said, alluding to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who is now the subject of a criminal investigation by Trump’s Justice Department. The probe revolves around Powell’s testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last year, during which he spoke about the expensive and slow remodel of the financial institution’s DC headquarters.

Critics claim that the Trump administration’s investigation into Powell is because the chairman has defied the president’s demands to lower interest rates. Powell released a video address noting ‘this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration’s threats and ongoing pressure.’ The remodel is expected to be the most expensive building project in DC history.