In a significant escalation of his campaign rhetoric, President Joe Biden on Monday called Donald Trump a “convicted felon,” marking the first time Biden has used this description since Trump’s conviction by a New York jury. Trump was found guilty of covering up hush money payments to a porn star, making him the first former president in US history to seek re-election with such a conviction.
“Folks, the campaign entered uncharted territory,” Biden told donors in Connecticut. “For the first time in American history, a former president that is a convicted felon is now seeking the office of the presidency.”
Biden, 81, did not stop there. He sharply criticized Trump’s baseless claims that the legal proceedings against him were rigged, asserting that these attacks pose a grave threat to the American justice system.
“As disturbing as that is, more damaging is the all-out assault Donald Trump is making on the American system of justice,” Biden said.
Reflecting on the 2020 election, where he defeated Trump, Biden suggested that Trump’s behavior has worsened since then, hinting at a mental unraveling.
“Something snapped in this guy for real after 2020,” Biden remarked. “It’s literally driving him crazy.”
The President also condemned Trump’s ominous warnings that his imprisonment could lead to violent upheaval, a sentiment that has raised concerns about potential political violence as the November 5 presidential election approaches.
“He says if he loses there will be a bloodbath in America. What kind of man is this?” Biden questioned, addressing his supporters.
Biden’s comments on Monday represent a departure from his previous restrained approach. Until now, his only remark on Trump’s verdict was a brief statement at the White House on Friday, affirming that no one is above the law, but without explicitly labeling Trump a felon.
The Biden campaign has been navigating a delicate balance, with some advisors and commentators urging the President to maintain a dignified distance from Trump’s legal troubles and concentrate on policy issues. However, Biden’s latest statements indicate a strategic pivot, directly confronting Trump’s criminal conviction as a key campaign issue.
