Joe Biden has used his first public rally as a US presidential candidate to accuse Donald Trump of abusing the power of the presidency.
The former vice president said Monday that Trump only represents his political base while ignoring the rest of the nation.
He told hundreds of cheering supporters and union activists in Pittsburgh that the US can thrive through increased economic unity, saying: "We can do all of this without punishing anybody."
Biden offered relatively few new themes, instead touching on many of the same promises he made while campaigning for other Democrats around the country in recent months. But he was unequivocal in his support for unions, saying bolstering them will help Democrats win key battleground states in 2020.
Before Biden took the stage, hundreds of supporters and union activists in the Teamsters Union ballroom chanted: "We want Joe! We want Joe!"
Trump tweeted Monday he'll "never get the support of Dues Crazy union leadership" but added "the members love Trump."
Pennsylvania is one of the Rust Belt states where many white working class voters, including union members, backed Trump in 2016.
Biden announced his candidacy last week, declaring the "soul of this nation" at stake if Trump wins again and pledging to restore the middle class.
"I make no apologies. I am a union man. Period," Biden told the union hall.
"The country wasn't built by Wall Street bankers, CEOs and hedge fund managers, it was built by you."
Among those who introduced Biden was Harold Schaitberger, the president of the International Association of Firefighters, a 300,000-member union that endorsed him ahead of the Pittsburgh event.
With Reuters
