Biden used to avoid bringing up Trump much. No longer

When he first took office, President Biden only occasionally referred to his predecessor as “the former man.” But in recent weeks and months, he has been talking a lot about Donald Trump. Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla remove caption

switch to caption Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla

When he first took office, President Biden only occasionally referred to his predecessor as “the former man.” But in recent weeks and months, he has been talking a lot about Donald Trump.

Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla There was an unspoken rule in the early days of the Biden administration: Don’t bring up the past president. But with the midterm elections quickly approaching, President Biden seems to be thinking again about Donald Trump.

In May, Biden referred to him as “the great MAGA King.” He claimed in the beginning of July that Trump overlooked and disregarded “the forgotten individuals he vowed to save.”

Following the most recent committee hearing on January 6, Biden singled out Trump.
Biden remarked during a virtual appearance with a law enforcement team, “The officers were heroes that day.” “Donald Trump lacked the guts to do something,”

This Trump boost coincides with the former president publicly hinting that he’d like to run for office again in 2024 and endorsing candidates in this year’s midterm elections.

John Anzalone, president Biden’s pollster, stated that “the reemergence of the former guy is that he reemerges.” “The one that is becoming more visible and confrontational” is Trump.

Trump is not just making headline-grabbing speeches and endorsements while campaigning, but on January 6th, the House Select Committee refocused much attention on the final months of Trump’s administration.

Anzalone thinks that President Biden’s message on the midterm elections should include calling out Trump.

Anzalone continued, becoming excited, “Joe Biden is the leader of the Democratic Party and Donald Trump is the leader of the Republican Party.” “It is very normal and expected for the head of the Democratic Party to tell Americans what he supports and what the head of the Republican Party opposes.”

THE PRESENCE OF TRUMP RUINS HISTORICAL NORMS Democrats anticipate having an affirmative “see what we’ve done” message to run on this autumn, in the face of economic headwinds, thanks to the recent passing of multiple bipartisan initiatives and an agreement among Democrats on the Inflation Reduction Act. The elephant in the room shouldn’t be ignored, however, according to Democratic strategist Jesse Ferguson.

Ferguson noted that losing presidents typically leave office with grace.

Or perhaps they quietly transition to their post-presidency after serving for eight years. Presidents have a long history of confronting challenging midterm elections and challenging the policies or legacies of their predecessors.

Trump, though, is not in the rearview mirror this time, so things are different.

President Biden is establishing a midterm contrast against the present and most likely future head of the Republican Party, not the former candidate, according to Ferguson.

Speaking at a convention in Washington, D.C. late last month, Trump gave the impression that he would be running for president once more, “a lot sooner than people realize.”

At the conclusion of his speech at the America First Agenda Summit on July 26 in Washington, D.C., former President Donald Trump thanks the audience. Getty Images/Drew Angerer remove caption

switch to caption Getty Images/Drew Angerer

At the conclusion of his speech at the America First Agenda Summit on July 26 in Washington, D.C., former President Donald Trump thanks the audience.

Getty Images/Drew Angerer After that occasion, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy claimed that he had asked Trump to delay announcing his bid for president in 2024 until after the midterm elections, suggesting that it would be better for Republicans if the debate over the polarizing former president had been replaced by issues like inflation, immigration, and crime.

TRUMP ENGAGES BOTH REPUBLICAN AND ELECTORAL DEMOCRATIC VOTER Biden is attempting to prevent Republicans from keeping the former president at a distance by talking about Trump and Trumpism, according to senior Democratic strategist Karen Finney.

It’s not just about Trump, you know,” she continued. Look at how many contenders there were in the Republican primary season, whether or not they had Trump’s endorsement.

The former Trump campaign consultant David Urban claimed that “nothing inspires voters, both Democrats and Republicans, like Donald Trump.” If there is one thing on which almost everyone can agree, it is that.

Top political advisor to Bernie Sanders Faiz Shakir described Trump’s impact on voters in almost exactly the same terms.
Nothing, he claimed, “propels the Biden coalition, Democratic voters, and the individuals who voted for him more than Trump.”

According to Shakir, some of the Democratic base is disgruntled that Biden and the party haven’t advanced further and is feeling drowsy and uninspired. But then Trump shows up and starts joking around about running in 2024. Shakir refers to it as a “gift” for Democrats and Biden.

In reference to Biden’s low approval rating, which reflects some of that Democratic sluggishness, Shakir stated, “The difficulty for Biden has been that he hasn’t had a foil.” “With regard to Biden, you have a position. No, there is a choice, he is attempting to make obvious. A direction can be chosen.”

According to recent polls cited by David Urban, many Democrats want someone other than Biden to run for president in 2024. He claims that despite this, the same surveys continue to favor Biden when compared to Trump.

And as a result, “Biden” apparently enjoys a little bit of chest-thumping about that, according to Urban.
According to Urban, discussing Trump more makes Biden relevant.

“It allows him to say, ‘Yeah I’m the one that beat the man,'” said Urban, “when people are looking at flipping the page and going on to a new candidate, new future, somebody younger, brighter, shinier.”

Biden was recently questioned about a potential fight with Trump in 2024. Though Biden claimed he wasn’t making a prediction, he added that he “would not be disappointed.”