In a recent interview recorded on August 7, 2024, President Joe Biden expressed serious concerns about the future of American democracy, particularly regarding the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Speaking with CBS News, Biden made it clear that he is not confident about a peaceful transfer of power if former President Donald Trump loses the election.
“I’m not confident at all,” Biden said in the interview, which will air on “CBS Sunday Morning” on August 11. The statement underscores the heightened tension surrounding the 2024 election, as Biden voiced fears about the potential fallout if Trump is not re-elected.
Biden’s apprehensions stem from past events and the rhetoric coming from Trump and his supporters. Back in March, during a rally in Ohio, Trump warned of a “bloodbath” if he were to lose the upcoming election. At the time, Trump was discussing the U.S. auto industry and how he believed his policies were crucial for its survival. He later clarified that the term “bloodbath” was in reference to the auto industry potentially facing significant challenges under Biden’s administration, not to any anticipated political violence. However, Biden and many of his allies are not convinced that this clarification holds water.
During the interview, Biden pointed out that Trump’s statements, whether about the election or other matters, should not be taken lightly. “You can’t love your country only when you win,” Biden remarked, highlighting his concerns about the potential for unrest if Trump does not secure a victory in 2024. This echoes the sentiment following the 2020 election, when Trump’s refusal to accept the results culminated in the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol.
The events of January 6, 2021, where Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the election results, remain fresh in the minds of many Americans, including Biden. Trump continues to maintain that the 2020 election was “stolen” from him, a claim that has been widely debunked by numerous courts and investigations. His persistent refusal to accept the 2020 results, despite being criminally charged in multiple jurisdictions for allegedly trying to overturn them, has led to growing concerns about how he and his supporters might react if history were to repeat itself in 2024.
Biden’s worries aren’t just about Trump’s rhetoric; he’s also concerned about the broader Republican efforts to influence the electoral process in key battleground states. The President pointed to recent moves by Republican-controlled legislatures in states like Georgia, where lawmakers have given local officials more power over the certification of election results. Biden narrowly won Georgia in 2020, a victory that Trump and his supporters have repeatedly and falsely claimed was the result of widespread voter fraud.
The stakes are high, with Biden’s remarks underscoring the volatile nature of the current political landscape. “I’m really worried,” Biden stated. His concerns are shared by many who fear that the US could be heading towards another period of significant unrest if the results of the 2024 election are contested in a similar fashion to those of 2020.
In response to Biden’s comments, Trump’s campaign was quick to dismiss the President’s fears, asserting that Trump is confident he will win the election. “Trump will take back the White House in 2024,” a spokesperson for the Trump campaign said, without directly addressing Biden’s concerns about the peaceful transfer of power.
As the election approaches, the possibility of a contested result looms large. Biden’s comments reflect a growing anxiety among many Americans about the stability of the nation’s democratic processes. The memories of January 6th are still raw, and the prospect of a similar event occurring in the future is unsettling for many.
With less than three months left until the election, the nation is bracing for what could be one of the most contentious and consequential elections in US history. Biden’s interview serves as a reminder that the peaceful transfer of power, a cornerstone of American democracy, is not something that can be taken for granted.
