President Joe Biden lambasted his predecessor and other Republicans for endorsing political violence, voter intimidation and lies in a Wednesday night message that portrays the upcoming US midterm elections as a challenge to American democracy.
In a nationwide televised evening speech, Pres. Biden conveyed his message to Americans to bring the future of the nation's electoral system front and center in the midterms, which will decide control of Congress and countless state positions, as per a New York Times report.
Pres. Joe Biden spoke at Union Station, just a few streets from the Capitol, where a crowd invaded the building on January 6, 2021, to obstruct the transition of power.
The US chief executive believes that the country is heading towards disaster, which he describes as "unprecedented," "unlawful," and "un-American."
Pres. Joe Biden seems shaken by the ferocious assault on Paul Pelosi by a hammer-wielding assailant who police believe was trying to kidnap his wife, Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Biden has linked the attack to the "Big Lie" that the 2020 election was stolen by former President Donald J. Trump.
"It's a lie that fueled a dangerous rise in political violence and voter intimidation over the past two years," Mr. Biden said, per the Times report.
He called out Donald Trump's efforts days before the attack to encourage Georgia's Republican secretary of state to pressure voters to "find" him sufficient votes to change the result of the election in that state, citing instances of poll workers being threatened and harassed.
Biden Claims US Democracy Is Under Attack
Pres. Biden underscored that Americans have to face lies with the truth. "The very future of our nation depends on it."
Biden, while not naming Donald Trump, did assert that Trump's administration had undermined the rule of law.
The president noted that "American democracy is under attack" since the 2020 election's results and had not been accepted by the defeated presidential candidate. Joe Biden pointed out that courts and other authoritative bodies have consistently rejected fraudulent statements of Donald Trump.
Joe Biden also remarked that radical MAGA Republicans challenge the integrity of previous, present, and upcoming elections.
According to CNN, Biden's advisers told the media organization that the POTUS would be making a public statement condemning threats and acts of violence.
The 2020 presidential campaign of Joe Biden centered on the idea of safeguarding the nation's soul and the foundations of its democratic system. The president has spoken about these issues throughout his presidency, but Wednesday's speech emphasized what's in danger in this year's US midterm elections.
Biden's off-camera meetings with Democrats reportedly have revealed a strong focus on democracy. On the eve of his address in Washington, Biden gave a preview of his message by telling a gathering of Democratic fundraisers in Florida that "democracy is on the ballot" this year.
Republicans: Biden's Speech a Diversionary Tactic
However, Republicans countered the allegations of President Joe Biden, saying that he was attempting to divert attention away from the US inflation rate and his low support ratings.
According to the report, House Republican minority leader Kevin McCarthy, who would become House speaker if his party wins next week, posted on Twitter: "President Biden is trying to divide and deflect at a time when America needs to unite. He can't talk about his policies that have driven up the cost of living."
He added that the people of the United States are not "buying it."
BBC reported that Half of Americans think poll fraud is rampant based on a study released this week by Reuters/Ipsos.
CBS, a US partner of the BBC, reports that out of 595 Republican candidates for state-wide office, 306 have expressed uncertainty about the outcome of the presidential polls in 2020.
