Biden says transition of power might not be peaceful if Trump loses
3 Min Read
The US president recalls Trump's earlier remarks about a "blood bath" in the country if he loses the presidential elections.
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Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a Buckeye Values PAC Rally in Vandalia, Ohio, on March 16, 2024. (AFP)
US President Joe Biden warned on Wednesday that the transition of power might not be peaceful if former President Donald Trump were to lose in the upcoming November election, highlighting Trump's comments suggesting that the only way he would lose the election is if it were stolen from him.
"If Trump loses, I’m not confident at all" that it will be a peaceful transition, Biden said in an interview with CBS News. "[Trump] means what he says, we don’t take him seriously, he means it — all the stuff about if we lose, there’ll be a bloodbath, it will have to be a stolen election."
Read more: Harris, Trump bicker at debut rally amid predicted upcoming debate
Biden also warned that the Republican nominee was preparing to contest the upcoming November election results, much like he did in 2020.
“Look, what they’re trying to do now in the local election districts where people count the votes … they’re putting people in place in states that they’re going to count the votes, right?” he said in the interview that will broadcast on Sunday. “You can’t love your country only when you win.”
In March, Trump said that a loss in the 2024 election would lead to a “bloodbath” for the US auto industry and the country. Biden and his campaign quickly seized on these remarks, accusing the former president of inciting political violence.
“Now, if I don’t get elected, it’s gonna be a bloodbath. That’s going to be the least of it,” Trump said then during a rally near Dayton, Ohio, adding, “It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country.”
Harris leads polls
US Vice President Kamala Harris officially secured the Democratic presidential nomination on Monday and is now set to face Trump in the ballots in November.
Trump has announced he will take part in a FOX News debate on Wednesday, September 4. This decision comes a week after Harris accused Trump of "backpedaling" from their initially agreed-upon debate date of September 10.
For the second consecutive week, the vice president Harris led Trump in polling from The Economist/YouGov. The poll conducted between August 4 and 6 showed Harris ahead by two points among registered voters, with 45% to Trump's 43%. The previous week, Harris had 46% support compared to Trump's 44% in the same poll.
