US Democratic nominee condemns violence in US, blames Trump for fomenting it

Former US Vice President Joe Biden, who is running against President Donald Trump, has criticized violence in cities and his opponent for fomenting it.

“This president long ago forfeited any moral leadership in this country,” Biden said at a steel mill in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, amid protests against police brutality and racial justice in the country. “He can’t stop the violence because for years he’s fomented it.”

The Democratic nominee further condemned looting, rioting and setting fire, asserting that those responsible should be brought to justice.

Biden: "Rioting is not protesting. Looting is not protesting... it's lawlessness, plain & simple... violence will not bring change. It will only bring destruction... this POTUS long ago forfeited any moral leadership. He cannot stop the violence b/c for years he has fomented it." pic.twitter.com/6fWRemMnld

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 31, 2020

“I want to be very clear about all of this – rioting is not protesting,” he said. “Looting is not protesting. Setting fires is not protesting. None of this is protesting. It’s lawlessness plain and simple. And those who do it should be prosecuted. Violence will not bring change, it will only bring destruction. It’s wrong in every way, it divides instead of unites.”

The Trump campaign responded to the remarks, describing the rioters as Biden's supporters.

“These left-wing rioters are Joe Biden supporters trashing cities run by Democrats who support his candidacy,” said Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh. “He has repeatedly given them cover by excusing their violence by calling them ‘peaceful protestors’ and accusing law enforcement of ‘stoking the fires of division’…it’s almost impossible to tell where his campaign ends and Antifa begins. You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America.”

BIDEN: "We have arrived in a moment in this campaign that we all knew we would get to: The moment when Donald Trump would be so desperate he would do anything to hold onto power. Donald Trump has been a toxic presence in our nation for four years." pic.twitter.com/ecJq4cZHHZ

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 31, 2020

Trump must stop his 'armed militia'

Protests have reemerged in recent days after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last week. Blake was shot multiple times in the back as his children were watching.

“If I were president my rhetoric would be less divisive,” Biden said Monday. “I’d be looking to lower the temperature in America, not raise it. I’d be looking to unite the nation.”

Trump has threatened to send the National Guard forces to restore order in Kenosha as well as Portland, Oregon, which has also been the scene of more than 90 nights of protests.

“[Trump’s] failure to call on his own supporters to stop acting as an armed militia…shows how weak he is,” Biden said. “Does anyone believe there will be less violence in America if Donald Trump is reelected? We need justice in America, we need safety in America. We’re facing multiple crises that under Donald Trump have kept multiplying…the common thread – the incumbent president who makes things worse, not better.”

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