In a recent CBS News interview on August 7, 2024, President Joe Biden voiced grave concerns about the upcoming 2024 presidential election and the implications for American democracy, particularly in the event of a loss for former President Donald Trump.
During the interview, which aired on “CBS Sunday Morning” on August 11, Biden declared, “I’m not confident at all.” His statement highlights the increasing tension surrounding the 2024 election and the potential repercussions if Trump fails to secure a win.
Biden’s concerns are grounded in past experiences and the rhetoric of Trump and his followers. For instance, Trump issued a warning of a “bloodbath” at a March rally in Ohio, where he was discussing the U.S. auto industry. He later specified that the term “bloodbath” referred to potential challenges the auto industry could face under Biden’s administration, not any anticipated political violence. Nonetheless, Biden and numerous others remain skeptical about this explanation.
In the interview, Biden emphasized that Trump’s comments should always be taken seriously. “You can’t love your country only when you win,” he said, expressing his worries about the possibility of civil unrest if Trump loses in 2024. This sentiment mirrors the aftermath of the 2020 election, which saw an escalation of tension culminating in the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol following Trump’s refusal to accept his defeat.
The January 6, 2021, insurrection, where supporters of Trump stormed the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the election results, is still vivid in the minds of many Americans, including Biden. Despite multiple criminal charges in various jurisdictions for allegedly trying to overturn the election, Trump continues to assert that the 2020 election was “stolen” from him. This claim has been thoroughly debunked by numerous courts and investigations, but it raises concerns about the potential reaction of Trump and his supporters if the 2024 election results mirror those of 2020.
In addition to Trump’s rhetoric, Biden expressed concern about broader Republican strategies to influence the electoral process in crucial swing states. He pointed to recent actions by Republican-led legislatures in states like Georgia, where local officials have been granted increased power over the certification of election results. Biden narrowly won Georgia in 2020, a victory that Trump and his supporters have falsely attributed to widespread voter fraud.
“I’m really worried,” Biden stated in the interview, reflecting the concerns of many who fear that the US could be on the verge of another period of substantial unrest if the 2024 election results are contested similarly to those of 2020. The volatile political climate lends weight to Biden’s remarks.
The Trump campaign quickly dismissed Biden’s fears in response to his comments, maintaining that Trump is confident of his victory in the upcoming election. “Trump will take back the White House in 2024,” a spokesperson for the Trump campaign declared, without directly addressing Biden’s concerns about a peaceful power transition.
With the election nearing, the prospect of a disputed result is becoming increasingly plausible. Biden’s statements reflect a growing unease among Americans about the robustness of the country’s democratic processes. The memories of January 6th are still fresh, and the potential for a similar incident in the future is a cause for concern for many.
