US Vice President Joe Biden asserted that the US economy has improved. (Reuters Photo)
US Vice President Joe Biden has come down heavily on presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump for opposing a minimum wage hike in America.
"All this stuff coming from Trump, you know, American workers are getting paid too much? Where the hell does he live?" Mr Biden said yesterday during his visit to Columbus, Ohio.
Earlier, the 69-year-old-real-estate tycoon said that American wages are already too high. He, however, amended his views by saying that the issue should be left to the State Governments based on the living standards and cost of living there.
"Well, I know where he (Mr Trump) lives. But I'm serious, think about it. They're three times as productive as they are in Asia, we're in a situation where we have the greatest research universities in the world, the most agile venture capitalists in the world," Mr Biden said.
"This is time for the United States just to step up and step in. I think there are so many opportunities and I feel confident about this year. I feel confident about this year," said the US Vice President.
Mr Biden asserted that the US economy has improved and criticized those who say that China is about to overtake the United States.
"I've been saying this for eight years. [And people who say] Well, you know I heard about how China's gonna eat our lunch. Come on, give me a break. Give me a break. The EU's gonna dominate us. You want to make any bets on that one? We want EU, we want China, we want to do better," he said.
"I know I'm 'Middle Class Joe,' I know all that stuff, but it really is about strengthening the middle class because if it's not working, it doesn't work for anybody. And we're finally getting back guys, I mean we really are," he said.
"We've gone from crisis to recovery and if we just get out of our own way for God's sake, we're better positioned to compete with the world than any other place in the world. You want to trade places, you wanna run China now? You wanna run the EU now? I mean come on, man," Biden said.
The US, he said, is "the best place in the world to invest".
"The last two years by a margin larger than any time in the history of the survey, they say the United States of America. There's a good reason for it, man. We've got the cheapest energy in the world, we've got the most productive workforce in the world," Mr Biden asserted.
Responding to a question, Mr Biden exuded confidence that Senator Bernie Sanders would support Hillary Clinton if she wins the Democratic party's presidential nomination. "Bernie Sanders is a good guy. Let Bernie run the race."
"There's nothing wrong with that," he said. "I'm confident that Bernie will be supportive if Hillary wins, which the numbers indicate will happen. So I'm not worried. There's no fundamental split in the Democratic Party," Mr Biden said.