Donald Trump has described Joe Biden as “not the brightest light bulb” after the Democrat veteran launched his 2020 White House campaign with an attack on the President.
Mr Biden, 76, who was vice-president under Barack Obama, called Mr Trump a “charlatan” as he joined the crowded field of 20 candidates vying for the Democrat presidential nomination.
His long-awaited announcement makes him the front-runner as the Democratic choice, with one survey putting him eight points ahead of Mr Trump.
But the President told Fox News: “I’ve known Joe over the years. He’s not the brightest light bulb in the group, I don’t think.”
He added: “He’s a pretty sleepy guy. He’s not going to be able to deal with [Chinese president] Xi Jinping... he’s not going to be able to do the job.”
Launching his campaign, Mr Biden said the 2020 election would be a “battle for the soul of this nation”.
He added that Mr Trump “seeks only to aggrandise himself.”
