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Joe Biden tired of talking about 'former guy' Trump, Internet says 'we have a new title' for ex-president

'For four years, all that's been in the news is Trump. For the next four years, I want to make sure that all the news is American people,' said Biden

Joe Biden did not want to talk about his predecessor during his first town hall as president on Tuesday, February 16. "I'm tired of talking about Donald Trump," Biden told an audience present in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the CNN event. For the most part of the event, Biden refused to talk about Trump or even mention his name and referred to him only as "the former guy".

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When CNN host Anderson Cooper asked questions about Trump, particularly pressing for a reaction about his recent acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial, Biden did not give in and refrained from making a statement. Yet, he did make a statement in a way by addressing him as 'the former guy' when Cooper asked if he was committed to passing a $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill. "Remember you and I talking during the campaign, that you had the former guy saying that well, you know, we just can open things up, that’s all we need to do," Biden said. "We said no, you got to deal with the disease before you deal with getting the economy going."

For most of the town hall, Biden's Covid-19 stimulus package was the highlight as he promoted its provisions including funding to vaccinate Americans and reopen schools among others. Biden said the country will have more than 600 million doses, enough to vaccinate the entire population, by the end of July. "We came into office, there was only 50 million doses that are available," Biden said in another snub to Trump. He also spoke about his plan to raise the minimum wage to $15 per, and how white supremacy poses a big threat to the nation.

Following Trump's acquittal from the second impeachment trial, Biden said he won't interfere in any possible investigations to prosecute Trump for his actions as the president, and that the DOJ will take it from there. "For four years, all that's been in the news is Trump," Biden said. "For the next four years, I want to make sure that all the news is American people."

'The Former Guy'

Tensions between Biden and Trump have been been in the news ever since the latter did not attend the Inauguration ceremony of the new president. During the town hall, Biden pretty much confirmed their rocky relationship. 

When Cooper asked if Biden had called any former presidents, he took a subtle jab at Trump. “Yes I have,” Biden replied. “Do you want to say who?” Cooper asked. Biden replied, “No, I don’t. They’re private conversations.” Then he mentioned Trump without naming him at all. "But, by the way, all of them, with one exception, picked up the phone and called me as well,” Biden said. 

The last interaction between the two that the public was made aware of was when Trump left Biden a supposedly 'generous' letter when leaving the White House. "The president wrote a very generous letter,” Biden said at the time. “Because it was private, I won’t talk about it until I talk to him. But it was generous.”

Trump did not attend the inauguration. Former presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton attended the inauguration ceremony but 96-year-old Jimmy Carter skipped due to travel concerns amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Trump instead flew to Mar-a-Lago, Florida, with wife and former FLOTUS Melania Trump. And since then, he has his hands full with the second impeachment trial which concluded in an acquittal.

Biden referring to Trump as 'the former guy' has been quite the hit on social media as many users took to the social media site to praise his snubbing. "Biden just called Trump “the former guy” and I think we’ve got ourselves a new title for the ex-president," one user said. "I like Biden shrinking Trump as the "former guy" and not uttering his name. I only want to hear about Trump now as relates to criminal and civil cases, and hearings," another added. 

"Hearing Biden speak openly about the issues as opposed to against “the former guy” is pretty refreshing. Whoever prepped him for this did a damn good job," one said. "President @JoeBiden referring to 45 as “the former guy” on this @CNN town hall  It’s truly so refreshing to have a president who tells us the truth and leads. #BidenTownhall," another user praised him. "The town hall tonight was fantastic. The difference between President Biden and the 'former guy' is like day and night. Caring, empathy, respect, compassion, humility, decency, and relatability are back in the White House," yet another praise came.