Biden Criticizes Trump, Media in Detroit Amid Calls for Him to Withdraw
President Joe Biden dismissed speculation about the future of his reelection campaign and criticized the media for giving Republican Donald Trump a “free pass” during a lively rally at a Detroit high school gymnasium on Friday night.
Amid some Democrats urging Biden to step aside following a lackluster debate performance two weeks ago, approximately 2,000 attendees at Renaissance High School greeted him with chants of “Don’t you quit” as he took the stage. When Biden mentioned Trump, the crowd responded with “Lock him up,” echoing a slogan from Trump’s 2016 rallies.
“I am running. And we’re going to win,” Biden assured the crowd, pledging to expose Trump’s actions, which he claimed the media had overlooked. He accused Trump of being a convicted criminal and a national threat, citing Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Biden warned that another Trump presidency would be “deadly serious.” Biden criticized the media for focusing on his verbal gaffes rather than Trump’s actions. He pointed to recent instances where he misspoke, calling his opponent “Vice President Trump” and referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “President Putin.” Biden highlighted Trump’s praise for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, questioning why his own mistakes received more attention. “Donald, no more free passes,” Biden declared.
This rally marked Biden’s fourth visit to Michigan this year, just 116 days before the November 5 general election. The event followed a contentious debate between Biden and Trump that drew bipartisan criticism of Biden. Democratic leaders and activists defended Biden at the rally, emphasizing his accomplishments and commitment.
Cindy Rudolph, a pastor at Oak Grove AME Church in Detroit, introduced Biden, noting that while some questioned his candidacy, many supported him. Michigan, a key battleground state, saw Biden win by 3 percentage points in 2020. Pete Hoekstra, chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, criticized Biden’s campaign stop, claiming Biden’s policies would harm Michigan’s economy.
Earlier, Biden spoke briefly to supporters in an overflow room at the high school, reiterating his focus on preventing a Trump return to the White House. “It’s going to be all about Trump from here on out,” he stated.
During the 36-minute rally speech, Biden emphasized the dangers of a Trump presidency, citing Trump’s promise to act as a dictator. “And he means it, folks,” Biden warned. “We’re not gonna let that happen. Over my dead body.”
Addressing concerns about his health earlier in the day, Biden assured supporters he was “OK” and joked about his age. He highlighted his administration’s efforts to expand healthcare access and lower prescription drug prices, expressing his desire to “finish the job” with a second term.
Despite a poor debate performance, Biden and his supporters remained steadfast. Detroit resident Bonnie Ferrell argued that one debate should not define Biden’s candidacy, emphasizing his accomplishments and the threat posed by Trump. “A vote against Biden is a vote for Trump,” she said.
Biden criticized Republicans for letting the expanded child tax credit expire and pledged to make it permanent. He also proposed expanding the $35 insulin cap to all Americans and imposing a 25% minimum tax on billionaires, arguing that the wealthy should not pay lower taxes than essential workers. He estimated this tax would generate $500 billion over ten years. Additionally, Biden promised to protect voting rights, restore federal abortion safeguards, and ban assault weapons if reelected.
Attendees at the rally had mixed views on Biden’s candidacy. Michael Clift supported Biden but favored a younger Democratic candidate, while Rudy Reyes believed Biden should remain in the race, arguing that no other Democrat could win. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, speaking at the rally, emphasized the importance of voter participation in preserving democracy.