President Joe Biden, during an interview recorded on August 7, 2024, expressed significant apprehension over the continuity of American democracy. In his conversation with CBS News, Biden indicated his lack of confidence in a peaceful transition of power should former President Donald Trump not succeed in the 2024 presidential race.
Biden made his concerns public in the interview, broadcasted on “CBS Sunday Morning” on August 11. His comments underscore the escalating anxiety surrounding the 2024 election, particularly the potential repercussions if Trump fails to regain office.
The President’s fears are rooted in past events and the rhetoric propagated by Trump and his followers. In a rally held in Ohio in March, Trump alluded to a “bloodbath” if he did not win the forthcoming election. Although Trump later clarified the term “bloodbath” to refer to the potential challenges the U.S. auto industry may face under Biden’s administration, many, including Biden, remain skeptical of this explanation.
In the interview, Biden emphasized the seriousness of Trump’s statements, whether election-related or otherwise. “You can’t love your country only when you win,” Biden said, expressing his fear about potential unrest if Trump fails to win the 2024 election. This is reminiscent of the post-2020 election period, which saw Trump’s refusal to concede leading to the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol.
Memories of the January 6, 2021, Capitol storming by Trump supporters in an attempt to overturn the election results, are still vivid for many Americans, including Biden. Despite multiple jurisdictions charging him criminally for allegedly trying to overturn election results, Trump has continued to insist that the 2020 election was “stolen” from him, a claim widely discredited by many court rulings and investigations. This ongoing denial has sparked fears about how he and his followers may react if the 2024 results mirror those of 2020.
Biden’s concerns extend beyond Trump’s rhetoric to the broader Republican efforts to manipulate the electoral process in key swing states. He highlighted recent actions by Republican-controlled legislatures in states like Georgia, where local officials have been given increased authority over election result certification. Biden’s 2020 victory in Georgia, which Trump and his followers have repeatedly and falsely labeled a product of widespread voter fraud, was by a narrow margin.
The gravity of the situation is apparent in Biden’s words. “I’m really worried,” Biden stated. His apprehensions resonate with many who fear that the US could witness another period of significant unrest if the 2024 election results are disputed in the same manner as in 2020.
In reaction to Biden’s remarks, Trump’s campaign was quick to brush aside the President’s fears, asserting that Trump is certain of his victory in 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 nears, the threat of a disputed result is increasingly palpable. Biden’s comments mirror a growing unease among many Americans about the solidity of the nation’s democratic processes. The January 6th events are still fresh in people’s minds, and the possibility of a similar event in the future is a cause for concern for many.
With less than three months remaining until the election, the country is preparing for what could be one of the most contentious and significant elections in US history. Biden’s interview serves as a reminder that the peaceful transition of power, a fundamental aspect of American democracy, should never be taken for granted.
