Biden clarifies speech: 'I don't consider any Trump supporter to be a threat to the country'

"Not every Republican, not even a majority of Republicans, are MAGA Republicans. Not every Republican embraces their extreme ideology," President Biden said during his speech Thursday.

By Natalia Mittelstadt

Published: September 2, 2022 1:56pm

Updated: September 2, 2022 3:53pm

President Biden on Friday clarified his primetime speech the previous night in which he contrasted the "MAGA Republicans" he criticized to supporters of former President Trump.

"I don't consider any Trump supporter to be a threat to the country," Biden told reporters after he was asked about the distinction. "I do think anyone who calls for the use of violence, fails to condemn violence when it's used, refuses to acknowledge an election has been won, insists upon changing the way in which we rule and count votes, that is a threat to democracy.

"People voted for Donald Trump and support him now, they weren't voting for attacking the Capitol," Biden added. "They weren't voting for overruling an election. They were voting for a philosophy he put forward."

During Biden's "soul of the nation" speech Thursday night at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, he said, "Not every Republican, not even a majority of Republicans, are MAGA Republicans. Not every Republican embraces their extreme ideology. But there's no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven by, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans. And that is a threat to this country."

"MAGA Republicans do not respect the constitution," he continued. "They do not believe in the rule of law. They do not recognize the will of the people. They refuse to accept the results of a free election.

"They promote authoritarian leaders and they fan the flames of political violence that are a threat to our personal rights, to the pursuit of justice, to the rule of law, to the very soul of this country."