Biden Ramps Up Attacks on Trump

President Joe Biden has reportedly instructed his campaign staff to intensify their attacks on former President Donald Trump, as he refines his strategy ahead of an anticipated rematch. According to CNN, Biden personally directed his senior aides to focus on highlighting what he termed as the “crazy s—” that Trump says in public. This move comes in response to Trump’s apparent stronghold on the GOP nomination, following his decisive victories in the first three primaries.

In one of his recent and most pointed criticisms of Trump, Biden condemned the former president’s suggestion that Russia should invade any NATO country failing to meet spending requirements, labeling it as “appalling and dangerous.” Biden emphasized to voters that the upcoming election is not just about policy differences but about protecting “freedom and democracy itself.”

Central to Biden’s critique of Trump is the portrayal of him as a threat to democracy. Biden has repeatedly criticized Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots and his admiration for authoritarian leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. During a speech in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, commemorating the Jan. 6 anniversary, Biden accused Trump of being “willing to sacrifice our democracy to put himself in power.”

Biden’s criticism of Trump extends beyond political matters. He rebuked Trump for mocking the hammer attack against Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s husband, referring to Trump as “a sick . . .” before trailing off. It’s reported that in private, Biden is more explicit, calling Trump a “sick f—.”

Additionally, Biden has condemned Trump’s disrespectful comments about U.S. service members, including his remarks about former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s husband, a National Guardsman currently deployed. Trump had callously questioned, “What happened to her husband? Where is he?” Biden responded by stating, “We know he thinks our troops are ‘suckers,'” referring to claims made by former Trump Chief of Staff John Kelly.

Abortion has also been a contentious issue, with Biden criticizing both Trump’s appointment of conservative Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade and his reported support for a 16-week abortion ban. Biden accused Trump of “running scared” from articulating his abortion stance in public.

Contrastingly, Trump’s campaign has heavily focused on criticizing Biden’s border policies. Trump has portrayed his legal issues as a result of a justice system working at Biden’s behest. However, two of Trump’s criminal cases were brought by state prosecutors, and his federal classified documents and Jan. 6 cases are being handled by a special prosecutor independent of the Justice Department. Polls indicate a tight race between Biden and Trump, with Trump leading by 1.3 points according to Real Clear Politics’ polling average. Both candidates continue to face relatively high unfavorability ratings.

Concerns about the age of both candidates have been raised, with repeated gaffes on the campaign trail fueling speculation about their fitness for office. DOJ Special Counsel Robert Hur’s recent report, explaining why he chose not to charge Biden in the agency’s probe of his handling of classified documents after leaving office, highlighted concerns about Biden’s memory. Trump’s campaign believes he could secure enough delegates to clinch the nomination by March 12, while Haley, Trump’s only remaining competitor, has refused to drop out of the race, vowing to stay in past Super Tuesday on March 5.