President Joe Biden has stated that supporters of Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) initiative pose a threat to democracy.
“Maga forces are determined to drive this country backward,” he stated in a Pennsylvania prime-time speech.
In his speech, Republican leader Kevin McCarthy stated that Mr. Biden had “severely injured America’s soul.”
Two months will pass until the midterm elections, which will determine the balance of power in Washington.
Thursday evening, the Democratic president delivered an address from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the United States Declaration of Independence was signed. He adopted the subject of rebuilding the “soul of America” for his 2020 campaign.
He stated that he did not criticize the 74 million Americans who voted for Donald Trump two years ago. He stated, “Not every Republican, nor even the majority of Republicans, are Maga Republicans.”
“But there is no doubt,” Mr. Biden added, “that Donald Trump and the Maga Republicans dominate, control, and frighten the Republican Party today, and it is a concern to this country.”
Mr. Biden stated that Trump supporters viewed the crowd that stormed the US Capitol last year as patriots as opposed to insurgents.
“Long ago, we assured ourselves that the American democracy is secure,” he continued. But it isn’t. It must be defended. Defend it. Take a stand for it. Every single one of us.”
Mr. Trump responded by posting a defense of his Maga phrase and claiming that his opponent had “threatened America.”
Mr. Biden addressed the disturbance twice, stating twice: “They have the right to be outrageous. It is a democracy here.”
The president, who ran for office on a platform of national unity, has recently escalated his vitriol against Mr. Trump’s supporters.
Mr. Biden likened “extremist” Republicans to “semi-fascism” last week.
Republicans demand an apology from Biden
Mr. McCarthy, minority leader of the Republicans in the US House of Representatives, spoke from Mr. Biden’s hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, soon prior.
The representative from California stated that the president “has decided to divide, degrade, and insult his fellow Americans.”
“Why? Because they disagreed with his policies. That does not constitute leadership.”
He demanded an apology from Mr. Biden for labeling tens of millions of Americans as Nazis.
The leading Republican stated that the Biden administration burdened the United States with skyrocketing inflation, open immigration, Covid school closures that harmed children’s education, a “bungled” retreat from Afghanistan, and the deadliest national crime wave in a quarter-century.
“In the past two years,” he stated, “Joe Biden has waged an assault on the soul of America, its people, its laws, and its most cherished principles. He’s launched an attack against our democracy. His policies have seriously harmed America’s soul, weakened its spirit, and violated its faith.”
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr. Trump offered his criticism of Mr. Biden’s address.
He wrote, “If he doesn’t want to Make America Great Again, which is evident by his words, actions, and thoughts, then he should not be representing the United States of America.”
For the first time in nearly a year, it appears like the president’s political fortunes are on the rise. His approval ratings have improved from abysmally low to merely poor.
Furthermore, Mr. Biden’s troubles do not appear to be a deterrent for Democrats at the polls. In recent months, Democrats have consistently outperformed Republicans in head-to-head contests.
Mr. Biden has frequently been a bystander to this turnaround of fortune – due to his recent Covid illness and the fundamental limitations of presidential power – but that has never stopped a politician from seizing credit for good news beyond his or her control.
As well as highlighting challenges to American democracy and framing the discussion for the home stretch of the midterm elections, Thursday’s speech will establish the criteria for receiving credit if things continue to go well.
And if things went awry once again, he would be held accountable anyway.
Voter viewpoints
Voters in a small hamlet in Newfoundland, 190 kilometers (120 miles) north of where Vice President Biden spoke, sounded unconcerned about an alleged threat to democracy.
The cost of gasoline was the primary issue of Americans at the county fair. Several voters compared the economy under President Trump to the current state of affairs.
However, another self-described longtime Republican stated that he would never vote for Mr. Trump or any candidate he has endorsed.
In November, Mr. Trump’s name will not appear on any ballots, but his presence is unavoidable.
This weekend, he will headline a rally in the Scranton region. Several Republican candidates in this state secured nominations with the help of the former president.
