President Joe Biden on Friday expressed concern the 2024 election will not be “peaceful” depending on the outcome, citing recent comments from Donald Trump and JD Vance.
“I’m confident it will be free and fair,” Biden told reporters as made a surprise appearance at the White House press briefing. “I don’t know whether it will be peaceful.”
“The things that Trump has said and the things that he said last time out when he didn’t like the outcome were very dangerous,” he continued. “I noticed that the vice presidential Republican candidate did not say he would accept the outcome of the election. They haven’t even accepted the outcome of the last election.”
“So, I am concerned about what they’re going to do,” Biden said.
President Joe Biden speaks to the media in the White House press room, Oct. 4, 2024, in Washington.
Susan Walsh/AP
On the debate stage earlier this week, Vance was pressed on his past comments that if he were vice president he would not have certified the 2020 election and instead would have asked states to send alternate slates of electors.
The CBS moderators asked Vance if he would similarly challenge the 2024 election even if every governor signed off on the results. He declined to rule it out.
“Look, what President Trump has said is that there were problems in 2020, and my own belief is that we should fight about those issues, debate those issues peacefully in the public square,” Vance said.
That led to a clash with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, who questioned him point blank if Trump lost the 2020 election.
“Tim, I’m focused on the future,” Vance said. Walz characterized that response as a “damning non-answer.”
Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz participate in the Vice Presidential debate in New York City, October 1, 2024.
Matt Rourke/AP
This week, new evidence was revealed in special counsel Jack Smith’s federal election subversion case against Trump. Prosecutors shared details of what they called Trump and his allies’ “increasingly desperate” efforts to overturn his 2020 loss. Trump called the filing “election interference” and continues to deny any wrongdoing after pleading not guilty to the charges.
Trump also continues to spread false claims about the 2020 election on the campaign trail, adamantly rallygoers in Michigan on Thursday he was the winner.
“We won, we won, we did win,” Trump said. “It was a rigged election.”
Though Biden expressed concern about 2024 election, he also left the briefing room with some lighthearted humor after being asked if was reconsidering dropping out of the race.
“I’m back in,” the president joked, leading the room to laugh out loud.
President Joe Biden has recently expressed concerns about the potential lack of peace in the 2024 election following comments from former President Donald Trump and Republican Senate candidate J.D. Vance. Biden’s worries come as political tensions continue to rise in the United States, with both Trump and Vance making inflammatory remarks that could further divide the country.
In a recent interview, Trump suggested that he may not accept the results of the 2024 election if he believes it was rigged against him. This statement has raised fears of a repeat of the chaos and violence that marred the 2020 election, when Trump and his supporters falsely claimed that the election was stolen from him. Biden has condemned Trump’s comments, warning that they could undermine the democratic process and lead to further unrest.
Meanwhile, Vance, a prominent conservative commentator and author who is running for Senate in Ohio, has also made controversial statements about the upcoming election. In a recent speech, Vance suggested that violence may be necessary to protect the rights of conservatives in the face of what he sees as an increasingly radical left-wing agenda. Biden has criticized Vance’s remarks, calling them dangerous and irresponsible.
The escalating rhetoric from Trump and Vance has raised concerns among political observers and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Many fear that their comments could incite violence and further polarize an already deeply divided country. Biden has called for calm and unity, urging all Americans to respect the democratic process and refrain from resorting to violence or intimidation.
As the 2024 election approaches, it is clear that tensions are running high and the stakes are higher than ever. Biden’s concerns about the potential lack of peace in the election are well-founded, given the inflammatory rhetoric coming from some quarters. It is crucial for all political leaders to uphold the principles of democracy and work towards a peaceful and fair electoral process. Only by coming together and respecting each other’s differences can we ensure a smooth and peaceful transition of power in 2024.
