Biden Increases Criticism of Trump Before First 2024 Debate

President Joe Biden is gearing up for his first debate of the 2024 election season against his predecessor, Donald Trump, who was recently convicted. The stage is set for a showdown as Biden intensifies his criticism of Trump’s actions surrounding the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol that he instigated in a desperate attempt to retain power.

Biden’s campaign made a strategic move by securing an endorsement from former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, who served on the House Jan. 6 committee investigating the assault. This endorsement was swiftly followed by the release of a compelling new ad featuring a Michigan sheriff condemning Trump for standing idly by for three hours while his supporters violently attacked the Capitol police officers.

Later the same day, Kinzinger joined forces with Georgia’s former lieutenant governor, Geoff Duncan, and former Capitol police officer Harry Dunn for a news conference in Atlanta to lend their support to Biden’s campaign. Duncan expressed his unwavering commitment to supporting Biden, emphasizing that as an American, it was time to put country before party and end the nightmare perpetuated by Trump.

The press conference held in Atlanta carried significant symbolism as it took place at the spot where Republican election official Gabriel Sterling had previously warned of the potential for violence if Trump continued spouting false claims about election fraud.

Duncan, who had been vocal in his disapproval of Trump throughout the previous year, reiterated his stance by endorsing Biden after the GOP reaffirmed loyalty to Trump in the primaries. Dunn, who had first-hand experience of the violence incited by Trump’s supporters on January 6, highlighted Trump’s role in promoting political violence.

Trump faced impeachment for provoking the Capitol insurrection, which unfolded following his rally where he goaded his followers to march on the Capitol and reject Biden’s win. Despite being impeached, Senate Republicans refrained from convicting Trump, sparing him from a ban on seeking federal office in the future.

Currently, Trump is embroiled in legal battles, facing charges in both federal court and Georgia for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results and withholding crucial documents post-presidency. His recent criminal conviction in New York City on multiple counts related to falsifying business records adds another layer of complexity to his legal woes.

The timing of Trump’s sentencing for these crimes, scheduled for July 11, just two weeks after the upcoming debate and right before the Republican National Convention, adds further intrigue to the unfolding political drama.

The much-anticipated debate between Biden and Trump is set to be broadcast on CNN, PBS, and C-SPAN, kicking off at 9 p.m. EST and lasting for 90 minutes. This debate marks the beginning of a series of showdowns, with a second debate scheduled for September and hosted by ABC.