Former President Joe Biden's return to the campaign stage was disrupted by heckles and jeers from the audience on Saturday night as he launched a wide-ranging attack on President Donald Trump.

Biden accused his successor of undermining America's alliances, pursuing vanity projects and profiting from the presidency.

Speaking to Democrats gathered at the Maryland Democratic Party's Fight Back & Win Summit at Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover, the 83-year-old repeatedly criticized Trump while delivering remarks from a teleprompter.

Biden was forced to pause several times as hecklers interrupted portions of his speech, which was also punctuated by the former president coughing several times. 

The appearance marked one of Biden's highest-profile public speeches in recent weeks as he continues making political appearances while battling Stage 4 prostate cancer.

Throughout the address, Biden defended his own administration's record while arguing that Trump's return to the White House had damaged the country's standing at home and abroad.

He claimed Americans increasingly viewed the economy more favorably under his administration than under Trump's.

'Have you noticed that Americans are saying the economy under the Biden administration is a hell of a lot better than under Trump?' Biden asked supporters, drawing applause from the largely Democratic audience.

The former president also accused Trump of weakening America's alliances by what he described as the 'deliberate distraction - destruction of NATO.'

He went on to accuse Trump of enriching himself while back in office and said the president's conduct reflected 'corruption on a scale never seen before.'

'It's simply stunning to me,' Biden said. 'He has no shame, and frankly it's embarrassing for the country. But Trump? Trump could care less.'

Biden reserved some of his sharpest criticism for several construction and branding projects associated with Trump's second administration.

'It's not just his vanity projects - tearing down the East Wing of the White House making room for his ballroom. Putting his name on the Kennedy Center. Building an arch in his own honor. Even hiring his own pool guy to fix the reflecting pool,' Biden said before delivering his punchline.

'Woah - what a loser.'

The remark drew applause from party activists attending the summit.

Despite the repeated attacks on Trump, Biden spent much of the speech urging Democrats not to become discouraged following recent political setbacks.

Recalling advice he often received from his late father, Biden told the audience that whenever life knocked him down, his father would simply say: 'Get up, Joe!'

He used the story to rally supporters ahead of next year's midterm election cycle.

'To all you who love our country, my message tonight is straightforward and simple: Get up, dammit. Get up now. Continue this fight!' Biden said.

He urged Democrats to continue working toward what he described as 'the country we know we can be: fair, equal, honest, decent. A country where we give hate no safe harbor.'

Biden concluded with a familiar appeal for national unity and optimism.

'We can do this, and we will,' he told the crowd. 'We just need to remember who in the hell we are. We're the United States of America! There is nothing beyond our capacity if we work together!'

The speech came more than two years after Biden ended his 2024 reelection campaign following widespread concern among Democrats over his debate performance against Trump.

During Saturday's appearance, Biden occasionally squinted toward the teleprompter, coughed several times early in the speech and spoke in a subdued tone for portions of his remarks.

Shouts from members of the audience briefly interrupted the event before Biden continued with his prepared address.

The former president made no reference to the ongoing ideological debate within the Democratic Party following victories by democratic socialist-backed candidates in several recent New York primary races.

Biden's appearance also came as former first lady Jill Biden continues promoting her new book, in which she revealed that during her husband's widely criticized 2024 debate performance she initially feared he might be suffering from 'a stroke.'