Is there chaos ahead?
President Joe Biden expressed his confidence on Friday that the upcoming November election would be “free and fair,” but he raised concerns about the potential for unrest surrounding the event. Speaking unexpectedly at a White House press briefing, Biden was asked by a reporter about the election’s fairness and peacefulness. He stated, “I’m confident it will be free and fair. I don’t know whether it will be peaceful.”
Biden’s remarks included references to former President Donald Trump’s past statements, which he described as “very dangerous” in the context of the previous election outcome. He mentioned his apprehension about the actions of Trump and his supporters, specifically noting comments made by Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, during a vice presidential debate. When asked whether Trump lost the 2020 election, Vance avoided the question, prompting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is running with Vice President Kamala Harris, to criticize Vance’s response as a “damning non-answer.”
Biden remarked on the debate exchange, highlighting that Vance’s failure to accept the results of the last election reflects a broader trend among Republicans. He pointed out that many in the party have yet to acknowledge the outcome of the 2020 election.
In the backdrop of these discussions, new developments emerged in the federal election interference case against Trump. Prosecutors filed a brief alleging that Trump attempted to overturn the 2020 election results through illegal means, with Special Counsel Jack Smith indicating that Trump’s actions during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot showed he was aware he had lost but was still trying to cling to power.
Trump responded to the allegations, dismissing the filing as lacking new information. During the vice presidential debate, Vance downplayed Trump’s actions on January 6, claiming that Trump called for peaceful protests and pointing to Trump’s departure from the White House on January 20 as proof of a smooth transition. However, the House January 6 committee concluded that Trump’s rhetoric incited the events of that day, noting that his tweet urging supporters to attend the rally had encouraged the ensuing chaos at the Capitol. Trump has since referred to the individuals charged in connection with the riot as “hostages” and “victims,” indicating he would consider pardoning them if he were to be reelected.
