US President Joe Biden has expressed concern over the potential for unrest during the upcoming November election, citing former President Donald Trump’s provocative rhetoric as a key factor. While Biden voiced confidence that the election would be free and fair, he added that he was uncertain whether it would remain peaceful.
Biden’s comments come amidst growing worries from lawmakers and analysts over increasingly aggressive campaign language as Election Day approaches. Trump, the leading Republican contender, continues to reject the results of the 2020 election, alleging widespread voter fraud, despite no evidence supporting his claims.
“I’m confident it will be free and fair. I don’t know whether it will be peaceful,” Biden told reporters, referencing the volatile nature of Trump’s previous statements. He remarked that Trump’s inflammatory remarks following his 2020 defeat were very dangerous.
Trump was impeached in 2021 for inciting the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, where rioters, spurred on by his false claims of election fraud, stormed the building. Although Trump has been indicted for his alleged role in the effort to overturn the election, he denies any wrongdoing.
In his recent campaign stops, Trump has doubled down on his allegations of election fraud, telling supporters in North Carolina that “they cheat like hell.” He has long been criticised for his violent rhetoric, which remains a point of contention in the lead-up to the 2024 election.
Vice President Kamala Harris, meanwhile, continues to campaign against Trump in key battleground states. During a rally in Michigan, she accused Trump of putting American jobs at risk and referred to him as one of the biggest losers of manufacturing jobs in American history.
With the election just one month away and early voting already underway in several states, Harris urged supporters to mobilise. She is set to receive support from former President Barack Obama, who will campaign in key swing states to help energize undecided voters.