President Joe Biden wipes away tears as Kamala Harris speaks about Capitol riot before taking hits at Donald Trump
PRESIDENT Joe Biden wiped away his tears as Kamala Harris spoke about the Capitol riot before taking several hits at his predecessor Donald Trump.
Biden and Vice President delivered remarks on Thursday at the National Statuary Hall on the one-year anniversary of the January 6 insurrection.
The president was photographed in the wings tearing up while Harris addressed the nation.
Biden then went on to take swipes at former President Trump – who made a speech in Washington DC before the mob stormed the Capitol.
“We are a great nation. We must be absolutely clear about what is true and what is a lie,” Biden said.
“And here is the truth: The former President of the United States of America has created and spread a web of lies about the 2020 election.
“His bruised ego matters more to him than our … Constitution. He refused to accept the results of the election.”
Biden continued: “It’s the first time in our history, a president who just lost an election tried to prevent the peaceful transfer of power.
“He’s not just a former president, he’s a defeated president.”
Shortly after the president’s remarks, Trump responded to Biden in a statement, saying he had used his name “to try to further divide America.”
“Biden, who is destroying our Nation with insane policies of borders, corrupt elections, disastrous energy policies, unconstitutional mandates, and devastating school closures, used my name today to try to further divide America.
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“This political theater is all just a distraction for the fact Biden has completely lost control of Covid (record numbers!), is no longer Energy Independent, inflation is rampant, our Military is in chaos, and our exit, or surrender, from Afghanistan, was perhaps the most embarrassing day in the long and distinguished history of the United States and so much more,” Trump added.
The 45th president continued: “Biden is working hard to try and deflect the incompetent job he is doing, and has done, on the horrible Afghanistan withdrawal (surrender), the Borders, COVID, Inflation, loss of Energy Independence, and much more.
“Everything he touches turns to failure. That’s what you get when you have a rigged Election.”
After the national speech, Biden was asked why he didn’t use Trump’s name in his remarks, to which he said he didn’t turn the moment into “a contemporary political battle” between himself and the former president.
“I think we just have to face the facts. What happens? Draw a clearer picture for the American people. It’s not about me.
“It’s not about the vice president. It really isn’t. That’s the thing that bothers me most about the sort of attitude that seems to be emerging to some degree in American politics. It’s not about you, it’s about me. That’s how it’s viewed.
“But it’s not about me. It’s not about whether I’m president or she’s vice president. It’s about the system. And about somebody who decides to put himself above everything. And so, but I did not want to turn it into a contemporary political battle between me and the president. It’s way beyond that.”
TRUMP CANCELS JANUARY 6 FLORIDA RALLY
Meanwhile, Trump canceled a press conference he had planned to hold in for the January 6 anniversary.
In a statement Tuesday evening, said that he would instead be discussing his grievances at a rally he has planned in later this month.
“In light of the total bias and dishonesty of the January 6th Unselect Committee of Democrats, two failed Republicans, and the Fake News Media, I am canceling the January 6th Press Conference at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday, and instead will discuss many of those important topics at my rally on Saturday, January 15th, in Arizona,” Trump wrote.
In the year since protesters broke down barricades in front of the Capitol building and forced their way onto the premises while Congress was certifying the 2020 election, the US Attorney’s Office for Washington, DC, has changed over 700 people.
Four people died on the day of the attack, including police officer Brian Sicknick, who suffered two strokes a day after the riot.
During the insurrection, Trump called for protesters to go home as the Capitol went into lockdown.
That day, Trump released a video message, saying: “I know your pain. I know you’re hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us.
“It was a landslide election, and everyone knows it – especially the other side.
“But you have to go home now. We have to have peace. We have to have Law and Order. We have to respect our great people in Law and Order.”
The former president told his fans, “we don’t want anybody hurt.”