Biden and Harris warn of Trump's threat to democracy
"If Trump loses, I'm really not sure," Biden told the U.S. broadcaster when asked if he believed there would be a peaceful transfer of power in January 2025. "He means what he says. We don't take him seriously," the U.S. president warned in the interview set to air in full on Sunday. Trump means it - even his remarks about a "bloodbath" in case of an election defeat, Biden added.
The U.S. President had previously cited Trump's remarks about a "bloodbath" several times, despite the Republican explaining that these were in the context of imports of electric cars from China.
Meanwhile, the Democratic presidential candidate Harris also warned against a return of right-wing populist Trump to the White House. At an appearance in Eau Claire in the state of Wisconsin, she pointed to a remark by Trump that he would become a dictator on the "first day" after a November victory, as well as his threat to use the Justice Department against his political enemies.
"Someone who suggests that we should abolish the Constitution of the United States should never again have the opportunity to stand behind the seal of the President of the United States," said Harris. She also called on people in the U.S. to reject "chaos, fear, and hate."
Trump had again spread his false claim in late 2022 that he had been robbed of a second term by voter fraud in 2020. "A massive fraud of this kind and magnitude allows for the suspension of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those in the Constitution," Trump wrote at the time on his online network Truth Social.
The 59-year-old Democratic candidate, Harris, and her running mate Tim Walz are currently on a multi-day campaign tour in battleground states. In Wisconsin and Michigan, both outlined a vision of future prosperity for the middle class. However, Harris warned that a return of Trump would set the country back.
She also repeatedly referred to the criminal convictions against Trump: While she had prosecuted fraudsters and sex offenders as attorney general in California, her opponent had been convicted of sexual violence and million-dollar fraud. "In this campaign, let me tell you, I'll proudly compare my record to his any day," said Harris.
At an appearance in Detroit, Harris was repeatedly interrupted by protests against the Gaza policy of the Biden administration. "If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that," said Harris. "Otherwise, I'll take the floor."
Meanwhile, her running mate Walz warned against "dangerous and backward ideas" that Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance are campaigning on for the Republicans. The Democratic campaign event in the crucial state of Michigan was Walz's "largest rally so far," he said. In national polls, Harris is now narrowly ahead of Trump.
In a different context, if someone questioned my plans for a future event, I might say, "I'm not going to make a decision until I have all the necessary information." Regarding the political landscape, Harris firmly stated, "I'm not going to stand for a return of chaos, fear, and hate in the White House."
