Biden warns of democratic threats on January 6 anniversary

President Joe Biden will commemorate the three-year anniversary of the January 6 attacks on the US Capitol by cautioning voters about the perceived threat Republican Donald Trump poses to the country’s status as a free democracy. Trump, who served as president from 2017 to 2021 and is once again vying for the Republican nomination, contested his defeat in the 2020 election. This led to thousands of his supporters storming the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the formal certification of the election results.

Speaking near George Washington’s Revolutionary War-era headquarters in Pennsylvania, Biden, a Democrat, will kick off the 2024 campaign year. Implicitly, he will convey that a vote for him signifies a continuation of the American democratic system, while a vote for Trump represents a venture into an uncertain future.

Biden’s remarks were originally scheduled for a day before the January 6 anniversary to avoid potential disruptions caused by an anticipated winter storm.

Biden aides expect the 2024 race will be closely contested and see Pennsylvania as a must-win. Biden won Pennsylvania, where he was born, in 2020 with 50.01% of the vote. In 2016, Trump won Pennsylvania with 48.58% of the vote.

What impact Biden’s Friday speech will make in a politically polarized country 10 months away from Election Day is an open question.

Biden has long used his platform to warn Americans about Trump, but that has done little to shake the faith of tens of millions of the ex-president’s supporters, who have given him a commanding lead for the Republican nomination in public opinion polls.

Moreover, President Biden’s arguments have not significantly alleviated concerns among his supporters regarding both the economy’s state and his age, which stands at 81. On the other hand, at the age of 77, former President Trump has framed the 2024 race in similarly critical terms, characterizing his legal challenges as persecution and labelling President Biden as a corrupt individual.

Despite facing federal charges related to election interference, Trump has recently hinted at acting in a dictatorial manner from “day one” and has pledged to investigate, imprison, and seek revenge against his political adversaries. Trump is anticipated to dedicate Saturday’s anniversary to campaigning with rallies in Iowa, a state hosting the first Republican nominating contest of the presidential race on January 15.

Notably, his primary opponents have largely avoided discussing the January 6 attack or Trump’s involvement in it.

Legal representatives for Trump have contested allegations of insurrection, asserting that his statements to supporters on the day of the 2021 riot were protected by his constitutional right to free speech.

As investigations continue, authorities are actively seeking information about more than 80 individuals who engaged in violence at the Capitol and remain unidentified, according to Matthew Graves, the US attorney for the District of Columbia. Graves’ office has overseen the prosecution of over 1,200 individuals accused of committing crimes during the attack.

Highlighting the fragility of democracy, Graves emphasized during a briefing on the investigation that “We cannot replace votes and deliberation with violence and intimidation.” He also mentioned that there are two more years to charge rioters before the statute of limitations expires.