Biden Calling Trump a Threat to Democracy ‘Still Stands’
Press secretary reiterates concern, despite cordial White House meeting
President Biden isn’t backing down on his longstanding warning that Donald Trump and his authoritarianism are a threat to US democracy.
The White House reiterated that was the case after Biden and Trump held an apparently cordial meeting Wednesday in the Oval Office.
Biden and other Democrats spoke often during the campaign about the potential for serious damage another Trump term could do.
But Biden greeted Trump at the White House for a post-election meeting, in which the men shook hands and pledged a smooth presidential transition.
During the regular White House press briefing Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked if Biden intended to apologize to Trump for his views.
“Look — and I’ve answered this a couple of times about a threat to democracy in the past week. The president is going to always feel obligated to be honest with the American people. What he says still stands,” she said. “And it’s not just him. You heard this from former staffers. You’ve heard it from the former chief of staff, John Kelly, and others. You’ve heard it directly from the president, president-elect, former president about ‘enemy of the people.’ Very, very clear. Very clear.
“What we want to be also very clear about is the importance of listening to the will of the American people. There was an election. It is important to respect our institution. It is important to respect the free and fair elections. And that’s what this president is doing, leading by example and putting that aside and putting the American people first,” Jean-Pierre said. “But what he said still stands, and it’s not just him. We should not just put this at the president. [Trump’s] own people said this. So, I want to be really, really clear about that and not forget the facts.
“There are facts here that we should certainly also lift up as you’re asking me these questions.”
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