US President Joe Biden has expressed concerns about potential threats to the nation’s democracy and issued stern warnings regarding the possibility of his predecessor, Donald Trump, returning to the White House. Biden declared that something “dangerous” is unfolding in America.
While emphasizing that democracies are at risk when people “remain silent” and fail to stand up, Biden urged voters to prioritize the health of American institutions.
In a speech delivered in Arizona, the US President remarked, “There’s something dangerous happening in America now…There’s an extremist movement that does not share the basic beliefs of our democracy: The MAGA movement.”
“We should all remember: Democracies don’t have to die at the end of a rifle. They can die when people are silent, when they fail to stand up,” he added.
Biden also noted, “There’s no question that today’s Republican Party is driven and intimidated by MAGA Republican extremists,” referring to Trump’s political movement. He stated that their extreme agenda, if implemented, would fundamentally alter American democracy as we know it.
The acronym MAGA stands for “Make America Great Again,” a political slogan popularized by Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign.
This strong message from Biden marks his most forceful attempt to address Trump’s antidemocratic actions since the former president faced criminal charges for attempting to undermine the 2020 election results.
According to CNN, this message provides insight into Biden’s upcoming re-election campaign, which will likely focus on Trump’s own words and actions as threats to democracy.
Biden criticized his predecessor for being guided not by the Constitution or decency but by “vengeance and vindictiveness.”
While Biden had remained relatively silent as indictments and arrests of the former president mounted over the summer, he is now sharpening his attacks on his likely 2024 rival, portraying him as a danger to democracy.
“Trump says the Constitution gave him the right to do whatever he wants as president,” Biden remarked. “I’ve never heard presidents say that in jest.”
Biden emphasized his belief in free and fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power, stating unequivocally that there is no place in America for political violence.
This speech comes at a time when Biden’s political future is uncertain, with concerns about his age, criticism of his presidency, and accusations against his son Hunter. Additionally, House Republicans held their first hearing in an impeachment inquiry into Biden, although they did not provide evidence of personal benefit by the Democratic president.
In the lead-up to the 2022 midterm elections, Biden delivered a resounding message, warning of “MAGA forces” that had previously attempted to nullify the votes of 81 million people.
