The American president, Joe Biden, criticized Donald Trump and his “extremist” supporters on September 1, describing them as enemies of American democracy.
Speaking in Philadelphia, the US president attacked all Republicans who support former President Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) ideology and called on his supporters to fight this ideology.
“Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the foundations of our republic,” Biden said, speaking near the site where the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were adopted more than two centuries ago.
“They embrace anger. They thrive on chaos. They don’t live in the light of truth, but in the shadow of a lie,” said Biden.
“There is no place for political violence in America. Point. No country. Never,” said the democratic president. This statement was a reference to the attack on the US Congress last year by Trump’s supporters, who refused to accept his defeat in the presidential election.
Citing the nationwide attack on abortion rights by hardline conservatives — and fears that other freedoms from access to contraception to same-sex marriage — the US president charged that “MAGA forces” are “determined to roll back the state behind”.
As control of Congress is being fought in November’s elections, Biden appealed to traditional Republicans to join forces with Democrats and reject Trump’s policies, which still hold sway over much of the Republican Party.
Biden made it clear that Democrats intend to turn the November election into a referendum on Trump, saying the Republican Party is completely “dominated and intimidated” by the former president and his MAGA agenda.
“And this poses a threat to this country,” he said, insisting that American democracy must be protected.
“Protect him. Stand up for democracy,” Biden called.
Trump has responded to Biden’s accusations through his social network, Truth Social. He said Biden is not qualified to be president.
“If he doesn’t want to make America Great Again, which through words, actions and actions, he doesn’t, then he shouldn’t be representing the United States of America,” Trump wrote.
Biden’s speech — billed as a “battle for the nation’s soul” — was based on an article he published in 2017 in The Atlantic, following a deadly white nationalist protest in Charlestville, Virginia, which Biden said , prompted him to run for president.
“We are living in a battle for the soul of this nation,” Biden wrote at the time.
According to a poll published Sept. 1 by The Wall Street Journal, if congressional elections were held today, 47 percent of registered voters would vote for Democrats and 44 percent for Republicans.
In March, polls showed Republicans with a five-point lead.
Democrats are hoping to win the November elections that hold all the seats in the House of Representatives and one-third of the seats in the US Senate. Traditionally, midterm elections do not favor the party in power.
However, things have improved in favor of Biden recently, as inflation has started to decrease and a series of reforms have been approved in Congress. Meanwhile, Trump is facing a series of criminal investigations.
Polls also show support among Americans for abortion rights, which could hurt Republicans in the election.
