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Within moments of President Joe Biden taking the stage in Philadelphia Thursday night, a group of hecklers began chanting “f*ck Joe Biden” and other profanities.
The president was speaking at Independence Hall, the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, to attack Republicans and call for unity. But his message was quickly overshadowed by the small group of protesters.
“As I stand here tonight, equality and democracy are under assault,” Biden said. “We all know what’s happening. We see it clearly.”
He continued, “There’s an assault on truth and facts, an assault on our institutions, an assault on free press, an assault on the rule of law. And an assault on the separation of powers.”
The president then aimed at former President Donald Trump and his supporters, saying, “We all know who this is about. This is about one person and one person only: Donald J. Trump.”
“And let me say to you, ladies and gentlemen, I have news for Donald Trump: America’s not buying what you’re selling,” Biden said. “They see through your lies, they see your racism, they see your sexism, they see your xenophobia, and they see your contempt for the rule of law.”
“We know who you are, we’ve seen who you are, and we’re not going to let you get away with it,” he added.
The small group of hecklers was quickly drowned out by the supporters in attendance, who began chanting “USA! USA!”
Biden has been increasingly critical of Trump and the Republican Party in recent weeks, as the country continues to grapple with several challenges, including the coronavirus pandemic and racial unrest.
The president is expected to ramp up his attacks on the GOP in the coming weeks as he attempts to boost Democratic candidates across the country ahead of the November elections.
“Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our Republic,” Biden said. “We cannot allow them to succeed.”
Although Biden acknowledged that not every Republican has the same beliefs, he stated that the party has been “hijacked” by those who do. He recommended Americans vote them out of office if they have these ideologies.
“We need to reclaim our democracy from these extremists,” Biden said. “And we need to do it now.”
The speech was interrupted several times by hecklers, who chanted “Fuck Joe Biden” and other slogans. But Biden soldiered on and ended with a plea for unity.
“We are better than this,” he said. “We are so much better than this.”
The speech was a marked contrast from Biden’s earlier remarks in Pittsburgh, where he struck a more optimistic tone and focused on his plans for the economy. But with Trump and the Republicans campaigning hard on law and order, it’s clear that Biden feels he needs to shore up support among progressives and Democrats who may be wavering.
“The future of our democracy is at stake,” Biden said. “We cannot let Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans destroy it.”
