"His statement that there will be a bloodbath if he loses the presidential election is sincere." On the 7th (local time), U.S. President Joe Biden expressed uncertainty about whether a peaceful transfer of power would occur if the Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, loses the upcoming November election.
President Biden, in an excerpt from a CBS News interview released ahead of its airing on the 11th, was asked, 'Do you expect a peaceful transfer of power after the election?' and replied, "If Trump loses, I am not confident at all," expressing his concerns. This interview is Biden’s first with the media since he decided not to seek re-election.
President Biden said, "He (Trump) takes his words seriously, while we do not," and expressed worry, saying, "His statement that there will be a bloodbath if he loses and that the election will be stolen is sincere." Earlier, former President Trump sparked controversy with his bloodbath remark during his March campaign. At the time, he explained that it meant the auto industry and the country would be severely impacted if he did not win, but Democrats accused Trump of inciting political violence again, similar to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Having championed the defense of democracy, President Biden explained his reason for withdrawing from the re-election race last month and also criticized former President Trump for not accepting election results. Biden emphasized, "Look, I am not someone who said from day one that I want to be a dictator. I am not someone who said I would not accept the election results." He also stated, "You don’t have to win to love your country," revealing that his decision to step down was motivated by patriotism for the United States.
Since withdrawing from the presidential race last month, President Biden has rarely appeared at official events except for some public engagements. CNN assessed this as Biden yielding media attention to Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate he endorsed. Recently, Biden’s official appearances included welcoming Americans returned in a prisoner exchange with Russia and visiting Texas to mourn the death of Representative Sheila Jackson Lee.
In this interview, President Biden warned that former President Trump is preparing to once again refuse to accept and overturn the results of the November election, just as he did in the 2020 election. He said, "Look at what they are trying to do in the vote-counting districts now. They are placing people in the states where votes are being counted," and criticized, "You don’t have to love your country only when you win."
The full interview with President Biden will be aired on CBS News Sunday Morning on the 11th. It mainly covers his decision to withdraw from the presidential race, the United States, and democracy.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris, who succeeded Biden as the Democratic presidential candidate, is currently conducting a relay campaign visiting seven battleground states along with her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. On the day she visited Michigan, Vice President Harris claimed that former President Trump’s 'Project 2025' "aims to set America back," and stated, "Unlike Trump, I will always prioritize the middle class and working families. When the middle class is strong, America is strong." Governor Walz also urged support, saying, "If he (Trump) returns, it will be much, much worse."
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