United States President Joe Biden issued a series of warnings about what a second term for Donald Trump would represent, during a fundraiser in Los Angeles on Saturday night (15).
Biden took advantage of the speech to classify the 2024 presidential election as a turning point in American history.
“Institutions matter,” said the American president. “What (Trump) did on January 6th, and now he’s literally saying if he doesn’t win there will be a bloodbath – it’s outrageous. What he is saying is outrageous.”
Biden’s re-election campaign, which was attended by former President Barack Obama, raised more than US$30 million. The conversation between Biden and Obama was moderated by television host Jimmy Kimmel.
Biden specifically argued on Saturday night that the next four years could see openings in the Supreme Court, potentially leading to the appointment of more conservative justices if Trump is re-elected.
“The Supreme Court has never been as out of step as it is today, I mean, never,” said the American president.
Biden recalled the Court’s decision that overturned the national right to abortion and the speeches of Judge Clarence Thomas, who said that other decisions could be reconsidered, including on contraception. A person in the audience at the event shouted, “including gay rights,” to which Biden responded, “Not on my watch.”
Biden’s campaign has sought to increase funding amid signs that Trump is narrowing the monetary gap.
Biden led Trump in fundraising for most of the year, but the former president has seen a significant influx of money come in since securing the Republican nomination in March. Trump surpassed Biden for the first time in April.
“We don’t have to vote against something in this election,” Obama said. “We have someone to worry about. And there is a whole agenda that we should be concerned about. But we can be proud of the extraordinary work Joe did.”
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, who also spoke at the event, touched on similar themes, saying her husband “honors the rule of law rather than trying to bend it to his own will. And he mobilizes the world to fight for democracy and freedom.”
She also defended the dangers of a second Trump term, saying: “Trump has told us repeatedly why he wants the White House. To give yourself absolute power. To not be held accountable for their criminal actions. To destroy the democratic institutions that stand in his way.”
The first lady suggested that Trump is a bully, saying, “When bullies threaten our loved ones, we don’t stand by.” She added that those in attendance were showing Trump “exactly how we deal with bullies. We don’t shrink, we don’t turn away. We showed up. Let’s speak louder.”
Obama Appeals to ‘Core Values’
Obama lamented how some in the country have “normalized behavior that used to be disqualifying,” referring to Trump’s recent conviction in his criminal trial.
“We have the spectacle of a candidate from one of the two major parties sitting in court and being convicted by a jury of his peers on 34 counts,” Obama said. “Your foundation cannot operate because it was involved in illegal business. You have your organization being sued for not paying taxes,” Obama said.
Biden interjected, “He didn’t pay anything.”
When Kimmel asked Biden about “Trump amnesia,” Biden said, “All you have to do is remember what it was like” during Trump’s four years, recalling Trump’s recommendations for people to inject detergent to cure Covid-19. .
Obama also called on “those who are conservatively predisposed” — who may not agree with Democrats — to consider the “core values” that have shaped the country, such as “basic honesty.”
Kimmel asked Obama how he felt about Trump saying he has done more for black people than any president in history. Obama responded: “One thing he did, for example, was make them feel even better about the first black president.”
Starry event
George Clooney and Julia Roberts opened the evening’s program. Barbra Streisand introduced First Lady Jill Biden, while Jason Bateman, Jack Black, Kathryn Hahn and Sheryl Lee Ralph also entertained the crowd.
While talking about a potential second term for Trump, Kimmel asked Biden, “What are some things a president might do to, say, a talk show host who’s been making fun of him every night?”
“Ever heard of Delta Force?” Biden joked before taking a more serious tone, “The idea that he actually threatened to reciprocate. We are in the United States of America. Did you ever think that you would ever, ever hear something like that? Retribution, that’s what he’s going to do, he’s going to take revenge on people,” he said.
Kimmel also noted that Biden said he wanted to restore the soul of the country. “It looks like we might need an exorcism. Is that why you visited the Pope?”
“Yes,” Biden said.
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