President Joe Biden called former president Donald Trump a “convicted felon” who poses a high threat to the United States if he wins another term. He has said this for the first time since Trump’s conviction.
“For the first time in American history, a former president that is a convicted felon is now seeking the office of the presidency.”
Biden said this to a small group of donors during a fundraiser in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Biden said Trump was wrong to criticise the judicial system
Trump became the first US president to be convicted of a crime last week. A New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 elections.
“But as disturbing as that is, more damaging is the all-out assault Donald Trump is making on the American system of justice.” Biden also said that it was “reckless and dangerous” by Trump to say the justice system was rigged
Biden not addressed Trump’s guilty verdict so far. This was to avoid creating the impression he was politicising the process.
The president’s comments show how he and his campaign could use Trump’s conviction to make the case to voters Trump is unfit for office. This is an issue that could help define this year’s presidential race.
Trump administration said such remarks are ‘shameful’
A Trump campaign spokeswoman said on Fox News that it was “shameful” for the Biden campaign to call Trump a convicted felon.
Trump has railed against the verdict and the legal proceedings since he was convicted and said he plans to appeal.
However, he said on Sunday that he would accept home confinement or jail time but that it would be tough for the public to accept.
Hunter Biden court case will be an electoral issue
Biden’s son Hunter was also in court for a criminal case against him over his purchase and possession of a revolver in 2018. This is a historic criminal prosecution of a sitting president’s son and is likely to be a major issue in the 2024 elections.
Biden did not comment on his son’s legal troubles. He had however issued a statement earlier in the day.
“Jill and I love our son and we are so proud of the man he is today.”
Democrats are wrestling with how central Trump’s felonies should be to Biden’s re-election campaign. Many are taking a wait-and-see approach to advertising and new strategies. They want to see polls and voter feedback before they react strongly to this unprecedented moment in US history.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 10% of Republican voters said they are less likely to vote for Trump in November. This was after his conviction.
Trump still faces criminal charges in three other cases: a Georgia election interference case, a Florida documents case, and a federal election interference case. He is also appealing the results of his civil trials.
With inputs from Reuters
