US President Joe Biden branded his Republican predecessor Donald Trump’s followers on Wednesday an “extreme” group in a sharp rhetorical escalation before the coming crucial elections this autumn.
Speaking to reporters about the Supreme Court’s potential scrapping of nationwide abortion rights, Mr Biden said Mr Trump’s Make America Great Again movement poses a danger to US values in the run-up to November midterm elections.
“What are the next things that are going to be attacked? Because this Maga crowd is really the most extreme political organisation that’s existed in American history, in recent American history,” he said.
Mr Biden also described Republican economic policies as “extreme, as most Maga things are”.
The Democrat painted Republican plans as favouring the wealthy, in contrast to what he said was his working-class agenda, a theme likely to be pushed heavily on the campaign trail ahead of the midterms, which will decide control of Congress.
“It’s a ‘MAgenda’. Meanwhile, millionaires and billionaires and corporations skate by,” Mr Biden said, targeting a proposal by Florida Senator Rick Scott, chairman of the Senate Republicans’ campaign organisation.
“Imagine that. Just imagine that. I think it is truly outrageous.”
The comments marked a shift by the president and the Biden administration, which have largely opted to avoid talking about his predecessor’s followers.
Mr Biden, who defeated Mr Trump in 2020, began his presidency trying to avoid mentioning Mr Trump. He did jokingly call Mr Trump a “plague” at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday.
But Mr Trump, who in an unprecedented assault on modern US democracy continues to state the lie that he won the election, is still a strong force.
The property magnate and former reality TV performer is showing his continued electoral power in backing winning candidates in Republican primary contests ahead of the midterms. He has also repeatedly indicated that he is likely to seek the presidency again in 2024, setting up a possible rematch with Mr Biden.
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An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of former president Donald Trump gather in front of the US Capitol Building in Washington, US, January 6, 2021. Reuters -
A supporter of US President Donald J. Trump sits on the desk of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after supporters of US President Donald J. Trump breached the US Capitol security in Washington. EPA -
Police detain a person as supporters of US President Donald Trump protest outside the US Capitol. AFP -
Protesters enter the US Capitol Building. AFP -
A protester holds a Trump flag inside the US Capitol Building near the Senate Chamber. AFP -
US Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP -
Members of congress run for cover as protesters try to enter the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP -
Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol. AFP -
Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol. AFP -
Congress staffers hold up their hands while Capitol Police Swat teams check everyone in the room as they secure the floor of Trump supporters. AFP -
US Capitol Police stand detain protesters outside of the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP -
A supporter of US President Donald Trump sits at a desk after invading the Capitol Building. AFP -
A protester sits in the Senate Chamber. AFP -
Pro-Trump protesters tear down a barricade as they clash with Capitol police during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results by the US Congress. Reuters -
Police hold back supporters of US President Donald Trump as they gather outside the US Capitol's Rotunda. AFP -
Supporters of US President Donald Trump enter the US Capitol's Rotunda. AFP -
A protester is seen hanging from the balcony in the Senate Chamber. AFP -
Riot police prepare to move demonstrators away from the US Capitol. AFP -
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol. AFP -
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces, as they storm the US Capitol. AFP -
A supporter of US President Donald Trump wears a gas mask as he protests after storming the US Capitol. AFP -
Pro-Trump supporters storm the US Capitol following a rally. AFP -
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest inside the US Capitol. AFP -
US President Donald Trump is seen on TV from a video message released on Twitter addressing rioters at the US Capitol, in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC. AFP -
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC. AFP -
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest in the US Capitol Rotunda. AFP -
Paramedics perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a patient. AFP -
A wounded protester is carried on barricade as demonstrators breach the US Capital building grounds. Bloomberg -
US Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi preside over a joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 Electoral College results after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol earlier in the day on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. EPA -
Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of the morning, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington. AP
News agencies contributed reporting
