President Joe Biden’s press secretary called former President Donald Trump supporters an “extremist threat to our democracy” on Wednesday just days after Biden said he doesn’t “respect” Trump supporters and accused MAGA Republicans — referring to the Trump slogan “Make America Great Again” — of engaging in “semi-fascism.”
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During a White House press briefing on Wednesday, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden thinks MAGA Republicans “are the most energized part of the Republican Party” who also pose an “extremist threat” to the United States.
“But, you know, the President thinks that there is an extremist threat to our democracy. The President has been clear as he can be on that particular piece. When we talk about our democracy, when we talk about our freedoms, the way that he sees it is the MAGA Republicans are the most energized part of the Republican Party. That extreme — this is an extreme threat to our democracy, to our freedom, to our rights,” Jean-Pierre said.
Jean-Pierre said Trump supporters “don’t respect the rule of law” and are “pushing an agenda that takes away people’s rights.”
“And here’s the thing: The President is not going to shy away to call out what he clearly sees is happening in this country,” she continued. “And, you know, again, MAGA Republicans are this extreme part of their party, and that is just facts. And that’s what he’s going to continue to lay out.”
Jean-Pierre previewed Biden’s upcoming primetime speech on Thursday, during which he is expected to attack Trump supporters again.
“You look at the extreme wing of a party — the MAGA Republicans — it’s not stopping. It is continuing,” Jean-Pierre said.
“And this is — this is an important time. And he is — again, he’s not going to shy away from it. He’s going to continue to lift that up and what he sees and what he’s going to call out,” she continued. “And, you know, he believes that there are a majority of Americans who disagree with that, who disagree on the attack of our core values as a country, and he’s going to speak directly to them tomorrow. That’s what you’re going to hear.”
Last week, Biden accused Trump supporters of engaging in “semi-fascism” and said he does not “respect” the nearly 74 million Americans who voted for Trump in 2020. The attacks come as Biden continues to repeatedly promise he will unify America.
“What’s happened is there are not many real Republicans anymore … I respect conservative Republicans, I don’t respect these MAGA Republicans,” he added. “What we’re seeing now is either the beginning or the death knell of an extreme MAGA philosophy. It’s not just Trump, it’s the entire philosophy that underpins the — I’m going to say something — it’s like semi-fascism.”