Biden blasts Trump for ‘encouraging’ Portland violence as Pres accuses Dem mayor of allowing ‘death & destruction’
JOE Biden has accused Donald Trump of "encouraging" violence as the President hit back saying the Democrats were allowing "death and destruction" to reign in Portland.
Trump and Biden butted heads once again as the increasingly bitter race for the White House heats up amid ongoing violence and protests across the US.
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Several people have been killed in the demonstrations sparked by fury over the death George Floyd, who died when a cop knelt on his neck, and the shooting of Jacob Blake.
Biden condemned the violence on both sides as police and counter-protesters violently clashed with Black Lives Matter (BLM) demonstrations.
has become a focal point of tensions as rival groups collided over the weekend - with one person being shot dead on Saturday.
said: "I condemn violence of every kind by anyone, whether on the left or the right.
"And I challenge Donald Trump to do the same, we must not become a country at war with ourselves."
The former VP added: "What does President Trump think will happen when he continues to insist on fanning the flames of hate and division in our society and using the politics of fear to whip up his supporters?
"He is recklessly encouraging violence."
has however blasted back, instead blaming the Democrats for the chaos and , Ted Wheeler.
He branded Wheeler a "fool" and a "dummy" - adding he "thinks this lawless situation should go on forever. Wrong!".
The President also accused Biden of being "unwilling to lead" as he suggested sending federal forces into Portland - saying the city "hasn't seen anything yet".
Biden has however accused Trump of being "weak" in failing to urge "his supporters to stop seeking conflict" amid the clashes.
In further tweets, Trump accused Biden of having "plunging poll numbers" and claimed his efforts to appease the left-wing of the Democrats meant he will "always be weak on crime".
"When is Slow Joe Biden going to criticize the Anarchists, Thugs & Agitators in ANTIFA?", Trump said.
"When is he going to suggest bringing up the National Guard in BADLY RUN & Crime Infested Democrat Cities & States?
"Remember, he can’t lose the Crazy Bernie Super Liberal vote!"
Law and order has become a central theme of Trump's re-election campaign - with the President due to visit Kenosha tomorrow after riots over the death of Blake.
Trump yesterday paid tribute to , a a member of the far-right Patriot Prayer group, who was shot dead in Portland.
The president paid homage to Danielson on Twitter in a retweet of a tribute post to him shared by Women for Trump co-founder Amy Kremer.
"!" Trump captioned the retweet.
The shooting came as a caravan of Trump supporters clashed with protesters in Portland, as multiple arrests were made in the 95th night of demonstrations in Portland.
More than 600 cars flying Trump flags and banners reportedly set off in a convoy around and through the city.
Meanwhile in Washington DC, BLM protesters were tear gassed as they marched on the White House.
Tensions between every night for nearly three months.
The Trump administration in July deployed federal forces to Portland to crack down on the protests.
Anger at police brutality was further inflamed when Blake was shot seven times in the back in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
That shooting sparked off days of rioting and on Tuesday self-styled vigilante and teenage Trump supporter , allegedly opened fire on BLM demonstrators, killing two and wounding one other
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Polls appear to be narrowing between Biden and Trump amid the chaotic scenes - and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that his killed 187,227 Americans.
A post-RNC poll by released on Saturday shows Biden maintaining his lead over Trump, though the president gained ground on the former vice president after the party conventions.
An August 26 poll by found that Biden currently leads Trump by three points in six battleground states.
Liberal filmmaker Michael Moore - who predicted Trump's election in 2016 - said Trump's support is "off the charts" in key states like his home Michigan.