By Nathan Layne
In a controversial speech, Donald Trump, a leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, urged his supporters in Iowa to “go into” Philadelphia and two other Democratic-run cities to “guard the vote” in 2024. The former president reiterated baseless allegations of widespread election fraud in the 2020 election as the reason for his call to action.
Amid growing concerns from Democrats and some Republicans that his potential return to the White House could pose a threat to democracy, Trump sought to counter those fears at two Iowa events. Despite facing criminal charges over his efforts to overturn his 2020 loss, Trump attempted to portray President Joe Biden as a dangerous autocrat, labeling him a communist, fascist, and tyrant.
A spokesperson for Biden’s re-election campaign dismissed Trump’s comments as a diversion tactic from his own legal troubles.
Looking ahead to the 2024 general election, Trump emphasized the need to scrutinize votes in key battleground states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. He painted these Democratic strongholds as centers of fraudulent claims from the previous election.
Trump’s inflammatory remarks foreshadow a potentially contentious election next year, despite the failure of numerous lawsuits challenging the 2020 outcome. Trump continues to assert, without evidence, that he lost to Biden due to widespread fraud.
While Trump did not specify who he was instructing to “go into” the targeted cities, a campaign aide suggested he was referring to poll-watchers and volunteers focused on ensuring a secure election. This aligns with plans outlined by the Republican National Committee.
Recent rhetoric from Trump on the campaign trail, including derogatory language toward his political adversaries, has sparked further concern. Some have described his comments as an attempt to undermine trust in U.S. elections during a volatile period in our democracy.
Responding to Trump’s allegations, Biden’s re-election campaign highlighted the former president’s legal troubles and criticized his policies. Trump, in return, reiterated unsubstantiated claims about Biden using the Justice Department to target him, portraying Biden as the real threat to democracy.
Trump also took aim at the Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare, calling it “a disaster” and hinting at significant changes without providing specifics.
(Reporting by Nathan Layne in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Gram Slattery in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis and William Mallard)
