“There’s one guy absolutely denigrating an entire group of people, appealing to the baser side of human nature, working on this notion of xenophobia in a way that hasn’t occurred in a long time,” Biden said at the backyard reception, held around the swimming pool at his Washington residence.

Later in his speech, Biden named Trump as the purveyor of a “sick message” about immigrants coming to the United States. He said that political tack wouldn’t ultimately resonate with most of the country.

“Folks, the American people are with us. I know it doesn’t feel that way, but I’m telling you, I’m telling you the American people agree with us,” he said.