President Joe Biden issued a serious warning about the challenges faced by American democracy in a crucial speech set for Thursday. This speech comes as a prelude to a potential rematch with his political rival, former President Donald Trump, whom Biden has accused of attempting to harm essential American institutions.
Despite a summer filled with legal issues for the former president, Biden has been cautious not to interfere with ongoing legal proceedings. His comments on Trump’s legal problems have been limited, with his most notable remark being a sarcastic comment about Trump’s mugshot in a Georgia case.
However, with Trump maintaining a strong lead in the Republican primary and Biden’s approval ratings struggling, the President has decided to step up his criticism of his potential 2024 opponent, painting him as a threat to democracy. Biden’s inner circle suggests that this Thursday’s speech marks a shift from his earlier approach.
If safeguarding democratic institutions and values was the main reason for Biden’s 2020 presidential run, it will again take center stage in his bid for reelection. According to officials, this speech aims to motivate voters and donors who may have been lukewarm about a rematch between these two figures.
“Protecting democracy,” emphasized a senior White House official, “continues to be the central cause of Joe Biden’s presidency.”
The timing and location of this significant speech have been carefully considered. In the past, Biden chose symbolic venues like Independence Hall and Gettysburg to address the state of American democracy. This time, they opted for Tempe, Arizona, partly to honor the late Republican Senator John McCain, a longtime friend of Biden’s. Arizona is also significant as a battleground state where Trump contested the 2020 election results and where voters rejected candidates who denied those results.
The President’s message is expected to emphasize the Constitution as the foundation of democracy, highlighting the importance of the separation of powers and checks and balances.
Additionally, the speech is strategically timed to follow the second Republican primary debate, aiming to insert Biden into a news cycle usually dominated by GOP events.
However, this speech comes at a politically uncertain moment for Biden, facing questions about his age, job approval, and legal issues involving his son, Hunter. House Republicans are also beginning an impeachment inquiry on the same Thursday.
Many senior Democrats believe that once voters perceive the 2024 election as a contest between Biden and Trump, the stakes will become clearer, potentially boosting the current president’s standing.
Top Biden donors, who had urged more aggressive attacks on Trump early in the campaign, were informed about Thursday’s speech plans during a fundraising retreat in Chicago earlier this month. Biden provided a preview of his address to donors in private sessions last week, warning about the possibility of his predecessor returning to the White House.
Let there be no question: Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans are determined to destroy American democracy. And I will always defend, protect, and fight for our democracy. That’s why I’m running,” he proclaimed.
Defending democracy remains a central issue for Biden’s allies, nearly three years after the tumultuous 2020 election. In his reelection announcement video, he started with footage of the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
Leading up to the 2022 midterm elections, Biden delivered a powerful message at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, cautioning against “MAGA forces” that “tried everything last time to nullify the votes of 81 million people.”
Before the speech, Biden convened his communications team and a group of scholars and historians, including Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham, to discuss the state of the nation and gather ideas.
While the White House maintains contact with several historians for ongoing brainstorming, it is uncertain whether Biden has hosted formal meetings to aid in crafting the speech.
