U.S. President Joe Biden accused his predecessor, Donald Trump, of endorsing political violence, while also minimizing the significance of early polls suggesting he might lose to Trump in a potential 2024 rematch.
Speaking at a fundraising event in Bethesda, Maryland, Biden referred to press pool reports, stating that Trump had threatened to deploy the U.S. military on American streets.
He emphasized the need to oppose such actions, asserting to his donors that they cannot allow this to happen.
Biden, who appears to be gearing up for a possible electoral battle against Trump in the upcoming general election, has been arguing that Trump poses a danger to American democracy. He cites Trump’s ongoing challenges to the legitimacy of elections and his intentions to target political adversaries.
In response, Trump has accused Biden of being a real threat to democracy, pointing to various legal actions against him.
These include charges related to the January 6 Capitol riot, alleged misuse of government secrets, and payments made to an adult film actress prior to the 2016 election.
Despite prosecutors refuting claims of political bias, Trump maintains his innocence and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
At the same event, Biden also addressed a recent New York Times/Siena College poll which showed a tight race between him and Trump. He downplayed the significance of this early polling data, suggesting it’s too soon to draw conclusions.
Biden also criticized Trump’s recent comments at a New Hampshire rally, warning that Trump would likely misuse presidential powers if re-elected and pointing out his continued admiration for authoritarian leaders.