President Joe Biden has expressed uncertainty about the potential for a calm U.S. election this coming November. He attributed this unsettling sentiment to inflammatory remarks made by his Republican rival, Donald Trump, who continues to deny the legitimacy of his 2020 electoral loss.
The President’s apprehension arrived against a backdrop of growing trepidation among political figures and analysts over the fierce rhetoric echoing through the campaign trail leading up to the election.
Trump, having narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in July followed by another alleged conspiracy in September, has persistently claimed that his 2020 defeat was the result of massive electoral fraud. This narrative incited a violent mob of Trump supporters, who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, spurred on by his unsubstantiated assertions.
“I believe it will be free and fair. However, I can’t say with confidence it will be calm,” Biden remarked to reporters as he addressed the pressing electoral concerns.
In the wake of the January 6 insurrection, Trump faced impeachment in 2021 for his role in instigating the riot, which culminated in his supporters, inflamed by his call to “fight like hell,” clashing with law enforcement while breaching the Capitol.
“They cheat like hell,” Trump insists, framing his grievances as the narrative of a victim turned warrior.
Now embroiled in legal complexities, Trump has been indicted for what prosecutors describe as a “covert criminal initiative” intended to manipulate the election process, an effort that ultimately sparked violence.
As the former President gears up to revisit the site of his initial assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, he continues to contend with criticism surrounding his aggressive and often incendiary rhetoric.
Biden made his remarks during his inaugural press briefing in the White House, where he took the opportunity to highlight the achievements of his administration while his Vice President, Kamala Harris, faces off against Trump on the campaign trail.
Meanwhile, both candidates are actively courting voters in key battleground states deemed crucial for the impending election. Trump recently campaigned in North Carolina, reiterating his claims of widespread voter fraud from 2020, declaring, “We should win, but keep this in mind: they cheat like hell.”
The Republican candidate also made a pit stop in nearby Georgia, a crucial swing state that narrowly went to Biden four years ago after being won by Trump in the 2016 election. This state is considered one of the most coveted prizes for the 2024 electoral contest.
At 78 years old, Trump faces racketeering charges brought forth by state prosecutors. This case, currently in limbo, is anticipated to resume post-election; Trump firmly maintains his innocence in these allegations.
In a show of solidarity, Trump partnered with Georgia’s Republican Governor, Brian Kemp, to survey the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the deadliest storm to maul the U.S. mainland since Katrina in 2005.
However, Trump has been relentless in disseminating misinformation regarding the government’s disaster response, falsely accusing Harris of misappropriating federal relief funds and diverting them toward migrants.
In the meantime, Kamala Harris rallies momentum in Michigan, a state historically affiliated with labor unions and emblematic of the decline in U.S. manufacturing during the 1980s. Harris and Trump are currently neck-and-neck in all seven pivotal swing states.
At a rally stop in Detroit, Harris sharply criticized Trump, claiming, “This man has perpetually fought for his own interests. He has consistently undermined union efforts throughout his career.”
Later, addressing a gathering in Flint—a predominantly Black city famously marred by the water crisis in recent years—Harris labeled Trump “one of the greatest losers of manufacturing jobs in American history.” Flint’s struggles amplify how government failures can disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities.
“The election is only a month away, and early voting has already commenced in numerous states,” Harris urged her supporters, rallying them to prepare. “We must energize, organize, and mobilize our efforts.”
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
