Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is accusing President Donald Trump of using the violence breaking out in cities across the nation for his political gain.
MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell asked Biden if Trump is “rooting” for the violence because it helps him politically.
“I think he views it as a political benefit,” Biden said.
Biden mentioned remarks made by White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway in regards to the riots.
“The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on who’s best on public safety and law and order,” Conway said during an interview with Fox News on Thursday.
Biden noted, “When has a president or a spokesperson for a president ever said something like that, ever.”
Watch his comments below:
.@JoeBiden: @realDonaldTrump views riots "as a political benefit." pic.twitter.com/LjC7YMRxlm
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) August 27, 2020
Biden criticized Trump for his response to the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017 when 32-year-old Heather Heyer was killed by a white supremacist during a “Unite the Right” rally.
“This is the same guy when people came out in Charlottesville and a young woman gets killed. They’re spewing hate and their veins bulging and carrying swastikas, and white supremacists, and gets asked what about what just happened and he said ‘there are very fine people on both sides,’ Biden said.
He added, “He just keeps pouring fuel on the fire. He’s encouraging this. He’s not diminishing it at all. This is his America now.”
Biden’s comments come just one day after Vice President Mike Pence said during his remarks at the Republican National Convention Biden “did not say one word” about the violence last week, as IJR previously reported.
The former vice president did post a video on Wednesday afternoon where he condemned the “needless violence” and acknowledged “protesting brutality is a right and absolutely necessary.”
Trump took to Twitter on Wednesday to announce he is sending federal law enforcement and the National Guard to Kenosha, Wis. after violence ensued as a result of the police shooting of Jacob Blake, as IJR previously reported.