During his inaugural 2024 campaign speech in Pennsylvania for the presidential elections, President Joe Biden, as reported by CNN, criticized his adversary, Donald Trump, alleging that Trump prioritizes his power over American democracy.
Biden asserted that Trump’s campaign fixates on the past instead of focusing on the future, issuing a stark warning that Trump’s potential reelection poses a threat to American democracy. In a passionate address on the eve of the third anniversary of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, Biden emphasized, “Donald Trump’s campaign is about him, not America. Donald Trump’s campaign is obsessed with the past, not the future. He’s willing to sacrifice our democracy and put himself in power.”
The president directly linked the threat to American democracy to the deaths resulting from the January 6 attack, placing blame squarely on “Donald Trump’s lie.” Biden expressed, “They died because his lies brought a mob to Washington,” condemning Trump for delegating the “dirty work” to others.
Biden criticized Trump for his rally rhetoric and past speeches, accusing him of expressing “admiration” for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The president also condemned Trump for making light of the attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, in October 2022. Biden questioned, “Who in God’s name does he think he is?” and highlighted the need for people to make choices about the direction of the country.
The Biden campaign’s first 2024 ad, according to CNN, focused on the January 6 insurrection, featuring images from the 2018 Unite the Right rally, clashes between Trump supporters and police on January 6, and a noose outside the Capitol. Biden conveyed a sense of urgency, stating, “There’s something dangerous happening in America,” and emphasized the responsibility of current generations to safeguard democracy for future ones.
In more intimate settings, Biden reportedly acknowledged that his primary motivation for running is to defeat Trump. The president hinted that he might not be running again if Trump were not seeking a second term.
In contradistinction, Trump has been explicit about seeking retribution against political opponents if he regains the presidency, characterizing himself as a potential dictator on Day 1 and vowing to eliminate “radical left thugs.” Trump, in a post on Truth Social, labeled Biden a “moron” and positioned him as the supposed real threat to democracy.
