Biden, Democrats Call Trump ‘Convicted Felon’ 24 Times

President Biden and prominent Democrats have been using the term “convicted felon” to refer to former President Trump since his recent conviction in Manhattan. Biden and his campaign have employed this label multiple times, including at a fundraiser in Connecticut, where Biden remarked that “for the first time in American history, a former president is a convicted felon.” The Democratic National Committee also ran billboards in Phoenix ahead of Trump’s rally there, labeling him a “convicted felon.”

This concerted effort to brand Trump as a convicted felon extends beyond Biden and the DNC, with other prominent Democrats like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Representatives Jamie Raskin, Eric Swalwell, and Adam Schiff also using the term in speeches and interviews. Additionally, the pro-Democrat House Majority super PAC has sent emails to reporters highlighting Republicans’ defense of Trump, accusing them of supporting crime by aligning with a “convicted felon.”

While polls suggest that voters’ opinions on Trump remain largely unchanged after his conviction, there are signs that some Republicans and independent voters are less likely to support him. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 10% of Republicans and 25% of independent voters said they were less likely to vote for Trump in the wake of the conviction.

Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt criticized Democrats for using the term “convicted felon,” accusing them of trying to distract from other issues. Some Democrats have also suggested that the focus on Trump’s conviction could overshadow other important issues that voters care about.

In his first remarks after the verdict, Biden did not refer to Trump as a “convicted felon,” but instead focused on defending the U.S. justice system against Trump’s claims of rigging. Biden emphasized the need to respect the justice system and criticized those who claim it is rigged.

A recent poll found that 49% of Americans want Trump to end his campaign after his guilty verdict, while 47% believe the charges against him were politically motivated. Additionally, 47% of voters believe that someone convicted of a felony should not be allowed to serve as president.

Trump’s conviction stems from a case in which he was found guilty of hiding hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels to influence the 2016 presidential election. Trump has denied the allegations and has vowed to appeal the case. He is set to be sentenced on July 11.