Biden Hits Trump’s Coronavirus Response: ‘He’s Worried About Looking Bad’

The Trump administration has fought for years to undermine and repeal the Affordable Care Act, the signature legislative achievement of President Barack Obama’s administration, in which Mr. Biden was vice president. In May, the Trump administration argued to a federal appeals court that the entire law was unconstitutional and should be struck down.

The emotional thrust of Mr. Biden’s 18-minute remarks came in his denunciation of Mr. Trump’s halting response to the pandemic. Without a capable leader in the White House, Mr. Biden said, it would be up to the American people to care for themselves during the crisis.

The number of coronavirus cases has spiked across much of the United States, particularly in the Sun Belt states that were among the first to reopen large parts of public life. In Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott encouraged a quick reopening and forbade local governments to mandate that masks be worn, Mr. Abbott paused the reopening process on Thursday in an effort to free up hospital rooms for people affected by the virus.

“The number of cases is increasing in 29 states,” Mr. Biden said. “We are going to be dealing with this for a long time. Trump can’t wish it away. He can’t bend it to meet his political wishes. There are no miracles coming.”

Mr. Biden’s Lancaster event came as the former vice president has been under harsh criticism from Mr. Trump’s re-election campaign for conducting his campaign primarily from his home in Wilmington, Del., 50 miles away, because of coronavirus concerns.