On the third anniversary of the January 6, 2021, riots at the Capitol Hill, U.S. President Joe Biden launched his presidential campaign with a plea to save democracy, directly criticizing his predecessor Donald Trump. Commemorating the day as a "Day of Infamy," Biden made an impassioned appeal to Americans to defend U.S. democracy from Trump, who, in contrast, has pledged to pardon the insurrectionists.
Addressing Americans near Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, Biden spoke of the urgent need to protect democracy, emphasizing that the democracy Americans fought for is under threat. He pointedly criticized Trump for his actions and comments related to the Capitol riots, drawing parallels to the language of Adolf Hitler and the antidemocratic actions of dictators. Biden particularly highlighted Trump's reaction to the violent attack on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, where Trump reportedly laughed.
Biden declared the preservation of American democracy as the central issue of his presidency in a campaign video released earlier in the week. Trump responded to Biden's speech by dismissing it as "pathetic fear-mongering" and criticizing Biden's presidency for alleged weakness, incompetence, corruption, and failure.
The clash between Biden and Trump underscores the deep political divisions and debates over the events of January 6, 2021, and their implications for American democracy.
(With Agency Inputs)
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