Even with the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus approaching 28,000, Trump has for weeks expressed his impatience to begin the process of reviving the economy. This is despite the administration’s having yet to put forth a plan for doing so, and warnings from medical experts against the consequences of doing so before the virus is under control.

Biden’s sharpened attacks come as Trump has continued to deflect blame for how his administration has handled the crisis, sparring with reporters in his daily news briefings and blasting critics who have challenged the president’s rosy characterization of his response and the political undertones of the briefings.

During his town hall on Wednesday as he heard from workers expressing fears for their safety, Biden, now the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, asserted that Trump was prioritizing political calculations over the human toll of the pandemic.

“Have we heard him offer anything that approaches a sincere expression of empathy for the people that are hurting?” Biden said of the president. “Have we seen any sign that he grasps just how hard it will be for people to recover from this, not just economically, but physically and emotionally, as well?”

Biden added: “I hope that your stories and your bravery get to him.”

