Biden characterised Trump as threat to freedom and democracy, pledging to prioritise protection of American democracy 
US President Joe Biden speaks at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, on January 5, 2024. — AFP
President Joe Biden launched a blistering attack on his potential 2024 election rival, Donald Trump, in a fiery speech marking the eve of the third anniversary of the Capitol attack.
At a rally near Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, Biden accused Trump of echoing the language of Nazi Germany, branding him a "loser" and a "sick" individual posing a severe threat to democracy.
Amidst whispers and furious shouts, Biden condemned Trump for instigating the Capitol assault and warned of the ongoing embrace of "political violence" by Trump and his followers ahead of the upcoming elections. He highlighted Trump's divisive language, likening it to the rhetoric used during the Nazi era, and positioned himself as a defender of America's institutions, emphasizing the risk posed to democracy should Trump secure a second term.
Criticism of Biden's campaign's slow start and his lagging position against Trump in some polls underscored challenges faced by the 81-year-old president. With concerns over the economy, migration issues, and divisive international policies, Biden's vulnerability, notably his age, has become a focal point.
However, Biden pivoted the spotlight back to Trump, characterising him as a threat to freedom and democracy. He pledged to prioritise the protection and preservation of American democracy throughout his presidency, highlighting Trump's behaviour, including his alleged mockery of an attack on Nancy Pelosi's husband and his admiration for authoritarian leaders like Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin.
Trump's campaign swiftly retaliated, labeling Biden as the real danger to democracy, accusing him of weaponising government power against political opponents and meddling in the upcoming election.
Despite Biden's identification of Trump as a likely opponent, the official battle for the Republican nomination is yet to begin. Trump's legal battles following the Capitol events, his impeachment, and his exclusion from presidential primaries in some states have added complexity to the anticipated electoral showdown.
As the campaign intensifies, analysts view the 2024 presidential election as tightly contested, with viewpoints suggesting that if the election were imminent, Biden might face an uphill battle.
The President's forthcoming campaign events, including a visit to a South Carolina church scarred by a racial shooting in 2015, are expected to shape the narrative as the electoral contest gains momentum.
