In President Joe Biden’s first campaign event since the assassination attempt of Donald Trump, he called for the deescalation of divisive political rhetoric while maintaining that a second Trump term would be a threat to democracy.
“Just because we must lower the temperature in our politics as it relates to violence doesn’t mean we should stop telling the truth,” Biden told a crowd of about 4,700 at the NAACP National Convention at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Since the shooting, Biden and his campaign have had to navigate a campaign strategy that both condemns Trump’s actions, while cooling political rhetoric surrounding the presidential race.
After the shooting the Biden campaign temporarily paused campaign ads, but Biden did not shy away from criticizing Trump in Las Vegas Tuesday for regressive policies and legislation enacted under his presidency.
Biden highlighted the former president’s connection to Project 2025, a detailed plan —crafted with the help of several former Trump officials — to dramatically expand presidential powers and restructure the federal government in the first days and weeks of a new Republican presidency.
“You ought to read it,” Biden said. “They want to cut Social Security and Medicare. They want to wipe away protections for pre-existing conditions from 40 million people. They want to stop Medicare from negotiating lower prescription drug prices, risking people’s lives and costing the government more money.”
In a forceful delivery, Biden warned that some of the goals of Project 2025 have already played out across the country, particularly in states that have restricted access to abortion after the Supreme Court repealed Roe v Wade.
Biden laid out his own plans for the first 100 days of his second term, saying one of his top priorities is to “restore Roe v Wade as the law of the land” causing the audience to chant “four more years.” Biden also vowed to use the first 100 days of a second term to pass legislation expanding voting rights, including the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
Biden’s remarks were well received at the NAACP conference, a major partner in his efforts to drive turnout among Black voters, his core base. Despite calls from some Democrats to step aside in the wake of his disastrous June 27 debate performance, the Congressional Black Caucus continued to back Biden.
Biden criticized Trump for accusing Hawaii-born President Barack Obama of not being a U.S. citizen. Biden said Trump’s divisive rhetoric has continued, pointing out his recent use of the phrase “Black jobs” during the aforementioned June debate.
“I know what a Black job is. It’s the vice president of the United States,” Biden said of Vice President Kamala Harris. He also referenced Obama as the first Black president in the United States, and Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black and female justice, who he himself appointed.
Standing in a crowded convention room at the Mandalay Bay — the sight of the most deadly mass shooting in modern history — Biden called for an assault rifle ban.
“An AR-15 was used in the shooting of Donald Trump. The same weapon that killed so many others, including children. It’s time to outlaw them,” Biden said.
“If you’re going to be outspoken on one,” consequence of gun violence, “don’t be silent on others,” Biden said.
Biden’s speech also comes as the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin enters its second day. During the Republican convention Trump announced Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate. Biden is scheduled to speak to Latino leaders at the UnidosUS Annual Conference also in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
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