Trump counters Biden's claims on Ukraine, NATO, Jan. 6 Capitol riot, COVID-19

Former President Donald Trump countered President Joe Biden's claims on Thursday about what occurred under their respective administrations regarding Ukraine, NATO, and the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Biden opened his address by touching on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He predicted that Russian President Vladimir Putin won't stop at Ukraine.

"They're not asking for American soldiers," he said of Ukraine, asking Congress to support it.

Biden said that Trump's recent statement about not protecting NATO countries who didn't pay their required amount for the treaty organization was "outrageous."

Trump responded to Biden on Truth Social: “Putin only invaded Ukraine, because he has no respect for Biden. Would have never happened under the Trump Administration, and for four years it didn’t happen!” 

In two follow-up posts, Trump wrote, “No, I said NATO has to pay its bills, and if it doesn’t pay its bills, we are not going to protect you. THE MONEY CAME POURING IN! Under other Presidents, NATO was BROKE.” 

“NATO only became strong, because of ME, I got the NATO Nations to pay up," he later wrote. "They were almost all delinquent. The United States was paying for them all!” 

The president mentioned Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and said democracy ultimately prevailed.

Trump wrote on Truth Social in response to Biden: “The so-called ‘Insurrectionists’ that he talks about had no guns, they only had a Rigged Election. The only gun was that used on Ashli Babbitt, who sadly, is no longer with us!” 

Biden attacked Trump over his response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"My predecessor failed the most basic presidential duty that he owes to the American people, the duty to care. I think that's unforgivable," he said.

Later, Biden credited the COVID vaccine, which was developed under Trump, for "turning setback into comeback." 

Trump then replied to Biden on the vaccine. "'The Pandemic no longer controls our lives. The Vaccines that saved us from COVID are now being used to help beat Cancer – Turning setback into comeback!'" he wrote on Truth Social, quoting Biden. "YOU’RE WELCOME, JOE, NINE MONTH APPROVAL TIME VS. 12 YEARS THAT IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN YOU!"

Trump also remarked on Biden’s health, noting his coughing and stumbling over his words. 

"He’s having a hard time now - The words are not flowing smoothly out of his mouth!" Trump noted on Truth Social.

"DON’T SHAKE PEOPLE’S HANDS GOING OUT – HE KEEPS COUGHING INTO HIS RIGHT HAND!" Trump also posted.

Trump criticized Biden's foreign policy.

"He said I bowed down to the Russian Leader. He gave them everything, including Ukraine. I took away Nord Stream 2, he gave it to them! He was a Puppet for Putin and Xi, and virtually every other Leader!" Trump wrote.

After Biden finished his address, Trump claimed he told multiple lies during his speech.

"Whether the Fake News Media likes admitting it or not, there was tremendous misrepresentation and lies in that Speech, but the People of our Country get it, and they know that November 5th will be the Most Important Day in our Nation’s History!" Trump posted.

The former president concluded that Biden's address "may be the Angriest, Least Compassionate, and Worst State of the Union Speech ever made. It was an Embarrassment to our Country!"

Trump ripped Biden on Truth Social on Thursday before the Democratic president’s arrival to the Capitol for the State of the Union address, criticizing him for his border policy and supposedly leaving late from the White House. 

“The President is very substantially late,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account five minutes before the address was scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET. “Not a good start, but let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. I’m sure he had very important things to do, but he is just now getting into the car. They will have to drive very, very quickly, you just don’t want to be late to the State of the Union. They will need Mario Andretti to be at the wheel of the Limo.” 

Biden entered the House chamber at 9:16 p.m.

The former president then criticized Biden’s border policy. 

“There is nothing he can say tonight that can absolve him from letting 15 million people into our Country illegally,” Trump wrote in another Truth Social post a few minutes later. “He’ll probably blame me, but I had the Safest Border in the History of our Country, so that won’t go very far!” 

Trump said days earlier he will be live posting on Truth Social during the State of the Union address. 

The 2024 GOP presidential candidate also slammed some members of Congress in the chamber.

"Maxine Waters, very nice woman, even though she’s constantly saying she wants to beat up or kill people on the opposite side of the aisle," Trump wrote. "lf I ever said that, they would call me an Insurrectionist, and all hell would break out!"

The former president also took a jab at retiring Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah).

"Thankfully, we won't have to be looking at RINO Mitt Romney much longer!" Trump posted on Truth Social.

He then both praised and criticized retiring Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).

"Joe Manchin had it made, was one of the most popular politicians in America, but then he, as he usually does, blew it. He approved the Inflation Reduction Act, and he was toast - Not recoverable!" Trump wrote.