Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden called President Trump a “joke” in an interview with CNN’s Chris Cuomo that aired Tuesday.

Mr. Biden was talking about Mr. Trump calling the Democrats who sat stone-faced during his State of the Union address “treasonous” and “un-American” for not applauding his administration’s accomplishments.

“I just marvel at some of the things he says and does,” Mr. Biden said. “Like, what two days ago — anybody who didn’t stand up and clap for him was un-American and maybe even treasonous.”

Mr. Cuomo pointed out that White House officials have since said Mr. Trump’s “treasonous” comments were “tongue-in-cheek” and meant as a joke.

“Well, let me tell you, he’s a joke,” the vice president scoffed.

Later in the interview, Mr. Biden said nationalism and phony populism are threatening the safety of the country.

“We have to reclaim the essence of who we are as a country,” he said. “We have to just get rid of this dangerous and, in terms of our security, dangerous notion of nationalism, and we’ve got to get rid of this phony populism that’s just is creating space for people to grab power.”

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