President Joe Biden drew attention with his candid comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin and ex-President Donald Trump at a campaign fundraiser in San Francisco, California, held on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.

The fundraiser was part of a three-day tour of California, where Biden was raising support for his 2024 reelection bid. Speaking at a private residence in San Francisco, he offered his insights into the current state of global and national politics.

Biden labeled Putin as a “crazy SOB“, referring to the Russian leader’s actions which have raised concerns about potential nuclear conflict. However, he stressed that climate change, not nuclear war, is the most pressing threat to humanity, aligning this global issue with his campaign’s agenda.

During the event, Biden did not shy away from criticizing his probable Republican opponent, Donald Trump. He was struck by Trump’s recent self-comparison to the late Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who passed away under dubious circumstances in an Arctic prison the prior week.

Trump had drawn parallels between his legal difficulties in the U.S., including a $350 million penalty for misrepresenting financial documents, and Navalny’s ordeal, hinting at a shift in the U.S. towards communism or fascism. Biden was perplexed by this comparison, asserting, “I don’t know where the hell this comes from.”

Biden also addressed the current state of the Republican Party, implying a lack of moral direction, especially amongst its Make America Great Again (MAGA) faction. He outlined the contrast between his administration’s commitment to support middle-class Americans and the policies proposed by Republicans which he contends could adversely affect these citizens.

The President voiced concerns about the potential outcomes of a Republican win in November, including the possibility of a national abortion prohibition and further attacks on health insurance programs instituted during the Obama administration.

Biden was warmly received in San Francisco by prominent individuals, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and San Francisco Mayor London Breed. On their flight to San Francisco’s Marina Green aboard Marine One, Biden lauded Pelosi as the “best Speaker of the House there has ever been.”

The comments made during this fundraiser display the intensifying tone of political dialogue as the 2024 election nears, with Biden positioning himself as a protector of democratic principles against perceived threats both at home and abroad.