'Trump could destroy American democracy': US President Biden says as he opens 2024 poll campaign

During his inaugural 2024 campaign speech in Pennsylvania for the upcoming presidential elections, President Joe Biden asserted that his potential rival, Donald Trump, is willing to jeopardize democracy to prioritize his power, as reported by CNN.

Biden also criticized Trump's campaign for dwelling on the past rather than focusing on the future.

In a forceful critique of the former President, Biden issued a stern warning that Trump's re-election would pose a threat to American democracy.

Stressing the importance of the "value Americans place on democracy," Biden made these remarks on the eve of the third anniversary of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

"Donald Trump's campaign is centred around him, not America. Not you. Donald Trump's campaign fixates on the past, not the future. He's willing to jeopardize our democracy to place himself in power," Biden stated in a passionate political attack on his opponent.

Choosing the backdrop of Valley Forge for his speech, where George Washington rallied an undersupplied Continental Army during the American Revolution, Biden drew a contrast between Washington, who set the precedent of relinquishing presidential power, and Trump, who resisted accepting the 2020 election result, encouraging his supporters to march to the Capitol, as per CNN.

Biden highlighted that three years ago, "We nearly lost America."

"For the first time in our history, insurrectionists came to halt the peaceful transfer of power in America, smashing windows, shattering doors, and attacking the police. Outside, gallows were erected as a MAGA crowd chanted, 'Hang Mike Pence!' Inside, they hunted for Speaker Pelosi," he added.

His message has the potential to rally a base that has been critical of Biden's handling of various crises, including the Israel-Hamas war and the influx of migrants at the US-Mexico border, according to CNN.

Despite polling showing Biden not as a widely popular leader, democracy itself is a central concern for Americans ahead of November.

Biden unequivocally blamed the threat to American democracy on "Donald Trump's lie" and directly linked the deaths on January 6 to Trump's actions.

"They died because his lies brought a mob to Washington," Biden said, accusing Trump of leaving the dirty work to others.

Biden criticized Trump's rhetoric, accusing him of expressing "admiration" for Russian President Vladimir Putin and condemned him for making jokes about the attack on Nancy Pelosi's husband in October 2022.

Over time, "politics, fear, and money have all intervened, and all of these MAGA voices who know the truth about Trump on January 6 have abandoned the truth and abandoned democracy."

"They made their choice – now the rest of us, Democrats, Independents, and mainstream Republicans, have to make our choice. I know mine, and I believe I know America's," emphasized Biden.

Moreover, the insurrection was a focal point of the Biden campaign's first 2024 ad, as reported by CNN.

"There's something dangerous happening in America," Biden stated in the ad, featuring images from the 2018 Unite the Right rally, Trump supporters clashing with police on January 6, and a noose set up outside the Capitol.

"There's an extremist movement that does not share the basic beliefs in our democracy," he added.

Biden urged everyone to consider, "What will we do to maintain our democracy?" stating that "our children and grandchildren will hold us responsible."

Reportedly, in intimate and small settings, Biden has essentially conceded that he is running primarily to defeat Trump, as per CNN.

Last month, at a fundraiser, Biden expressed uncertainty about running again if Trump were not seeking a second term.

Meanwhile, Trump has been explicit about seeking retribution against his political opponents if re-elected, with recent messaging suggesting he would be a dictator on Day 1 and vowing to "root out... radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country," resembling history's most infamous authoritarians, as reported by CNN.

Furthermore, Trump, in a post on Truth Social, referred to Biden as a "moron" and asserted that he is the real threat to democracy, ahead of his scheduled events in Iowa later Friday afternoon.

'ट्रम्प अमेरिकी लोकतंत्र को नष्ट कर सकते हैं': अमेरिकी राष्ट्रपति बिडेन ने 2024 के चुनाव अभियान की शुरुआत करते हुए कहा