Biden bids to shrug off his critics with blast at Trump

81-year-old laughs about his age as rival hits back: At least they didn’t have to carry him out in straitjacket’

- Jitendra Joshi

PRESIDENT Joe Biden took aim repeatedly at Donald Trump in a combative State of the Union address that sought to make a humorous virtue of his own age.

Sparring with Republican hecklers in Congress, the 81-year-old Democrat used the speech to frame his probable election rematch in November against Mr Trump, 77, as a choice between "hate and hope, between defenders of democracy at home and abroad, and those who would usurp it".

As he neared the end of his 68-minute speech, Mr Biden joked: "I know it may not look like it, but I've been around a while." The president, who was first elected to the Senate in 1972, also joked: "In my career, I've been told I was too young, and I've been told I'm too old." Mr Biden, the oldest president yet, stumbled on some words, coughed a few times, and cited Moscow on a list of destinations where Americans were able to buy cheaper prescription drugs.