By ZEKE MILLER and WILL WEISSERT, Related Press
CHICAGO (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday labeled his predecessor, Donald Trump, “the good MAGA king” and continued sharp criticism in opposition to Republicans forward of midterm elections that might be bruising for Democrats.
“I feel it’s essential that, as we go ahead, you’re gonna hear me speaking extra about not solely what we’ve finished, however what they’re attempting to do,” the president instructed a night Democratic fundraiser crowd of about 40 at a Chicago lodge.
The occasion that controls the presidency normally loses seats throughout the subsequent election and, with inflation reaching its highest ranges in 40 years, Biden’s occasion may see its management of Congress worn out in November. To attempt to counter that, Biden has in latest days begun decrying “ultra-MAGA” Republicans — a reference to Trump’s “Make America Nice Once more” marketing campaign slogan.
He instructed the fundraiser that the Democratic Nationwide Committee is already devoting extra money and time to selling the variations between his occasion and the GOP, including, “We’ve got to ensure we hold this clear distinction on both facet.”
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The president additionally stated he has not finished sufficient to advertise his administration’s accomplishments, together with a $1 trillion, bipartisan infrastructure bundle permitted by Congress final fall.
“One of many issues that I feel we have now to do isn’t just discuss what we’ve finished — we don’t do this sufficient and that’s my fault,” he stated.
However Biden additionally added, “Due to how outrageous a number of the issues that former President Trump has finished and stated, I feel we discovered ourselves within the place the place it was virtually like, ‘How may that occur?’ ‘How may that be?’”
When an attendee’s cellular phone rang, the president joked: “I do know that’s Trump calling. He all the time does that.”
His remarks on the fundraiser adopted a speech earlier Thursday through which Biden provided a brand new nickname for Trump, who himself enjoys bestowing usually unflattering monikers on political opponents.
“Underneath my predecessor — the good MAGA king — the deficit elevated each single yr he was president,” he instructed the Worldwide Brotherhood of Electrical Employees convention, which was additionally being held in Chicago. “The primary yr of my presidency, the primary yr, I lowered the deficit.”
Through the convention and fundraiser, Biden additionally repeated criticism he is provided recently of Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott’s 11-point plan. It was launched in February and suggests imposing a modest tax enhance on most of the lowest-paid People, whereas opening the door for chopping Social Safety and Medicare.
“I name it the ultra-MAGA plan, Make America Nice Once more plan,” Biden instructed the union convention. On the fundraiser he struck an identical word, saying, “I feel we have now to level out how radical it’s … so persons are reminded what’s at stake right here.”
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