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President Joe Biden on Thursday expressed uncertainty following a peaceful transition of power if former President Donald Trump loses the upcoming November election.
This marks Biden’s first public statement since his withdrawal from the presidential race last month.
Biden stated, “If Trump loses, I’m not confident at all. Trump means what he says; we don’t take him seriously. He means it, all this stuff about ‘if we lose it will be a bloodbath.’”
His remarks come in response to Trump’s controversial statement earlier this year, where he suggested that a loss in the election would lead to a “bloodbath” for the country.
This comment, however sparked widespread criticism and renewed fears about the stability of democratic processes.
The Biden campaign quickly seized on Trump’s “bloodbath” comment, using it in an ad posted on social media platforms and accusing Trump of “encouraging and excusing political violence.”
In defense, the Trump campaign argued that his comment was taken out of context, emphasising that it was related specifically to the impact of trade policies on the auto industry.
A Trump spokesman claimed that his statements were misrepresented, and a fundraising email from the campaign criticised opponents for “viciously” misquoting him.
Biden has previously expressed concerns about Trump’s willingness to accept election results.
The controversy surrounding Trump’s response to the 2020 election results, including his unfounded claims of fraud and the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, has heightened apprehensions about future elections. Many of his supporters who stormed the Capitol that day had echoed Trump’s allegations of a rigged vote.
In the CBS interview clip released on Wednesday and shared on social media platform X, Biden also hinted at potential efforts to complicate post-election certification processes.
He said, “Look what they’re trying to do now, in the local election districts where people count the votes. You can’t love your country only when you win.”
