In a recorded interview on August 7, 2024, President Joe Biden conveyed his apprehensions about a peaceful transition of power, should the 2024 presidential election not favor former President Donald Trump. The President spoke candidly with CBS News about his worries surrounding the future of American democracy.
“I’m not confident at all,” Biden communicated during the interview, which aired on “CBS Sunday Morning” on August 11. His comments underscored the increasing tension surrounding the 2024 election, as he voiced concerns about the possible ramifications if Trump is not victorious.
President Biden’s unease is anchored in past incidents and the rhetoric from Trump and his followers. During a March rally in Ohio, Trump signaled a “bloodbath” if he were unsuccessful in the upcoming election. While Trump later clarified that “bloodbath” pertained to potential challenges faced by the U.S. auto industry under Biden’s administration, many, including Biden, remain skeptical of this explanation.
Biden emphasized during the interview that Trump’s statements, whether election-related or otherwise, warrant serious attention. “You can’t love your country only when you win,” Biden noted, expressing his anxiety over potential civil unrest if Trump does not win in 2024. This sentiment mirrors the aftermath of the 2020 election, which saw the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol following Trump’s denial of the results.
The events of January 6, 2021, when Trump supporters attempted to overturn the election results by storming the Capitol, remain etched in the collective memory of many Americans. Despite numerous court rulings and investigations debunking his claims, Trump continues to assert that the 2020 election was “stolen” from him. His ongoing denial, even in the face of criminal charges in multiple jurisdictions for allegedly trying to overturn the results, has raised concerns about potential reactions from him and his followers if the 2024 election follows a similar trajectory.
President Biden is not only apprehensive about Trump’s rhetoric but also the broader efforts by Republicans to shape the electoral process in key battleground states. He indicated recent actions by Republican-dominated legislatures in states like Georgia, where local officials have been given more authority over the certification of election results. Biden’s narrow victory in Georgia in 2020 has been repeatedly and falsely attributed to widespread voter fraud by Trump and his supporters.
“I’m really worried,” stated Biden, echoing the fears of many who anticipate that the US might be on the brink of significant civil unrest if the 2024 election results are contested as they were in 2020. The President’s comments highlight the precarious state of the present political climate.
In response to Biden’s assertions, Trump’s campaign swiftly dismissed the concerns, maintaining that Trump is confident of his victory in the election. “Trump will take back the White House in 2024,” a spokesperson for the Trump campaign said, sidestepping Biden’s worries about the peaceful transition of power.
As election day draws closer, the potential for a contested outcome casts a long shadow. Biden’s comments reflect a widespread unease about the resilience of the nation’s democratic processes. The memory of January 6th remains fresh, and the possibility of a similar occurrence is unsettling to many.
With the election less than three months away, 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 stark reminder that the peaceful transition of power, a fundamental tenet of American democracy, should not be assumed.
