1 of 1 US President Joe Biden delivers a speech on January 5 to mark the third anniversary of the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 at a campaign rally at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, USA , 2024. Photo: Portal/Kevin Lamarque US President Joe Biden delivers a speech marking the third anniversary of the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 at a campaign event at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, in near Valley Forge. Pennsylvania, USA, on January 5, 2024. — Photo: Portal/Kevin Lamarque
In a campaign speech, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, said this Friday (5) that former President Donald Trump, the likely opponent of the Democrats in the presidential elections at the end of the year, “is ready to sacrifice our democracy” himself bring themselves to power.
Biden, the reelection candidate, spoke in Pennsylvania at an event commemorating three years since the invasion of the Capitol by Trump supporters.
“Donald Trump’s campaign is about him. Not about America, not about you. Donald Trump's campaign is obsessed with the past. Not the future. He is willing to sacrifice our democracy to gain power,” Biden said.
Biden accused Trump and his supporters of being willing to use political violence to achieve their goals:
“Trump and his supporters not only welcome political violence, they laugh at it,” Biden said.
The president said the presidential race is directly linked to the survival of American democracy and vowed to defend it, suggesting that electing Trump meant electing a dictatorship.
“Democracy is at the ballot box. Your freedom is at the ballot box,” said the US President.
Biden said Trump's reelection effort was based on seeking “revenge and retribution” against his political enemies.
The Democrat also reminded Americans that Trump called his opponents “worms,” ”the exact same language used in Nazi Germany.”
“How dare he? Who in God’s name does he think he is?” Biden said.
Three years since the attack on the Capitol
Biden spoke to the public a day before the attack on the Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021, which lasted three years.
At that time, supporters of thenPresident Trump broke into the US Congress building with the aim of keeping the Republican in power even after he lost the 2020 election. At least nine people who were at the Capitol died during or after the riot.
The US president accused Trump of inciting the January 6 attacks and of plotting revenge against those who wanted to punish him for his actions in 2021.
“What did Trump do? He called these rebels “patriots” and promised to pardon them when he returned to office [de presidente]”said Biden.
In August 2023, Trump became a defendant after he was accused of attempting to illegally overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The invasion of the Capitol was seen as part of attempts to intervene in the elections.
Trump has been formally accused of participating in three conspiracies to commit crimes:
- Conspiracy to defraud the United States.
- Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding.
- Conspiracy against the rights of Americans.
He will also face a fourth crime, although not as part of a conspiracy:
- Obstruction or attempted obstruction of an official proceeding.
On the occasion, prosecutor Jack Smith, who is leading the case, made a short speech: “The attack of January 6, 2021 was an unprecedented attack on democracy, it was motivated by lies from the defendant because he did not want the prosecution and.” Certification of the election results,” Smith said.
The former US president denies having committed any crimes.