President Joe Biden participates in an interview with Scott Pelley for CBS' "60 Minutes", Thursday, October 12, 2023, in the Map Room of the White House.
(Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)
Joe Biden’s remarks came during a public event in New York and said that world leaders always say that their democracies are at stake.
US President Joe Biden has claimed that at multiple meetings, wherever he goes to attend them, including the G20 meeting in India, the world leaders express support for him and implore that you can’t let the former US President Donald Trump win in the upcoming presidential elections.
His remarks came as President Biden addressed a public event during his election campaign in New York and said that world leaders always say that their democracies are at stake.
“And — but whether it’s the G20 meeting in — in India or whatever the meeting where there are other heads of state, I am not exaggerating when I say — and I say it in front of the press without giving the names — almost every one of the world leaders finds an excuse to get me alone for a moment, put their hand on my arm, and say, “You can’t let him win.” “My” — meaning his country or her country — “my democracy is at stake. My democracy is at stake.” Biden said.
“And, again, it’s not an exaggeration. Think about it. This is a guy who walked away from NATO. Th– told Putin he could do whatever he wants if they’re not paying their dues. As I said, he’s working — talks about — anyway,” he added.
President Biden also highlighted Donald Trump’s statement that he would encourage Russia to do whatever it wants with the countries that don’t spend 2 per cent of their GDPs on defence.
“Just — just look at what he’s done. The rest of the world is wondering what in the hell is happening to us. And they’re relieved, not because I’m so special but that I’m not Trump. I’m serious. I wish it was because they thought Biden was such a wonderful guy,” Biden said.
“I think they respect me. I think they listen to me. But the point is, it’s because they’re scared to death for their countries if he were to win again,” he added.
Earlier, Republican front-runner Donald Trump said that, as president, he warned NATO allies that he “would encourage” Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to countries that are “delinquent” as he ramped up his attacks on foreign aid and longstanding international alliances.
Speaking at a rally in Conway, South Carolina, Trump recounted a story he has told before about an unidentified NATO member who confronted him over his threat not to defend members who fail to meet the trans-Atlantic alliance’s defense spending targets.
But this time, Trump went further, saying had told the member that he would, in fact, “encourage” Russia to do as it wishes in that case.
“‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?'” Trump recounted saying. “‘No I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.'”
NATO allies agreed in 2014, after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, to halt the spending cuts they had made after the Cold War and move towards spending 2 per cent of their GDPs on defence by 2024. (ANI)
Nikki Haley said, “I’m a woman of my word,” referring to her earlier remarks about staying in the presidential race until Super Tuesday.
Former US President came another step closer to getting the Republican presidential nomination by registering a landslide victory in the South Carolina primary on Saturday and defeating GOP rival Nikki Haley at her home turf and casting grave doubt on her long-term viability.
According to CNN, Trump’s dominance in South Carolina was ‘hardly surprising’, as the state is considered among the “most conservative” in the country and has backed the former president every time he’s been on the ballot.
In the primary held on Saturday, Trump secured 59.8 per cent of the GOP votes and 44 delegates, lying at a wide margin from Nikki Haley who got 39.5 per cent votes and only three delegates, as per the data projected by CNN.
According to a CNN exit poll of primary voters in the state, more than 4 in 10 described themselves as being affiliated with the MAGA movement, while roughly 8 in 10 described themselves as conservative. Only a third of respondents acknowledged President Joe Biden as the “rightful winner” of the 2020 election.
There was not much doubt about the final result in South Carolina, as most polls already showed Trump with a 25-30 points lead.
“Why should the 40% have to cave to Trump,” NIKKI HALEY asks a packed crowd of 800 in Michigan.
“I’ll take cuts. I’ll take the bruises. I’ll go through the pain, because I know sometimes these best things require the pain.” pic.twitter.com/Bh7FCPwn7G
Even after the results, Trump exuded confidence in getting into a 2020 rematch with incumbent Joe Biden.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Trump said he is not sure Nikki Haley is “even really in the race” adding that he is focused on beating President Biden in the general election in November.
“I was honoured that I received the largest vote in the history of the state — I’m with Senator Lindsey Graham right now and he just told me we received the largest vote by double — we beat the last record,” Trump said. “So that’s a great compliment to all of the people and to making America great again.”
On being asked whether he wanted Nikki Haley to drop out of the race, Trump said that he’s “really not thinking about that… I’m not thinking about it.”
“I’m really thinking about we have to beat Joe Biden,” he told Fox News Digital. “I don’t know if she’s in the race at all, because, you know, I have set records in every single state. I’m not sure that she’s really in the race.”
Meanwhile, Nikki Haley has maintained that she is not quitting the race and will continue her White House bid claiming that a significant disapprove of both Biden and Trump.
Speaking in Charleston, Haley said, “I’m a woman of my word,” referring to her earlier remarks about staying in the presidential race until Super Tuesday. “I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.”
Haley admitted that she lost by a wide margin. However, she highlighted “40 per cent is not some tiny group.” She stated that even though she has lost four states to Trump. However, there are many more states where people have not still voted, CNN reported.
She said, “In the next 10 days, another 21 states and territories will speak. They have the right to a real choice, not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate.” She added, “And I have a duty to give them that choice”.
“I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.” (Credit X@NikkiHaley)
After the South Carolina results, the contest now shifts into a new gear starting now. The slow march through the early voting states is over and the primary is now a national one
By March 12, 56 per cent of the delegates to the Republican National Convention will have been awarded. In most states, Republicans’ delegates are ‘winner-take-all’ — which means Haley gets no credit for strong second-place showings, as reported by CNN.
As Haley has remained winless so far, the finish line — 1,215 delegates necessary to clinch the nomination — could be in sight for Trump within weeks.
The next test comes Tuesday in Michigan’s primary, though state Republicans have opted to award their delegates partially through the primary and partially through a caucus convention days later. It will be followed by caucuses in Idaho and Missouri, along with primaries in North Dakota. Then, on Super Tuesday, 36 per cent of the party’s delegates are at stake.
Trump won the GOP nomination in 2016, went on to become the President and ran all but a select few Republican critics out of office or the party, then stormed into the 2024 race despite facing multiple indictments
Trump’s success in Haley’s home state, underscores the dominance and command Trump holds within his party. Most Republican voters are all in on Trump.
The results have raised serious concerns over the future of Nikki Haley’s campaign.
It was considered that Haley’s voters consist of a ‘theoretical coalition’ This includes moderate Republicans, particularly suburban, college-educated voters who have fled the party since Trump’s ascension in 2016. It also consists of independents allowed to vote in Republican primaries in some states, such as New Hampshire and South Carolina, as per CNN.
But, the results have again shown that coalition isn’t showing up for Haley, at least not in enough force to bring any substantial effect.
Meanwhile, Haley’s campaign has announced a ‘swing’ through Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado and Utah starting Sunday. She’s also spending money on television and digital advertising targeting the states that vote on Super Tuesday on March 5.
“In the next 10 days, another 21 states and territories will speak. They have the right to a real choice, not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate,” Haley said in her concession speech.
But, whether the former UN Ambassador will actually be able to notch any wins and emerge as a serious challenge to Trump in the delegate race, is a tougher question.
Another important result of South Carolina’s primary might be the relationship between Trump and his onetime 2024 GOP primary rival, Senator Tim Scott, who is speculated to be in consideration for the vice presidential nomination, CNN reported.
He campaigned with Trump, appeared alongside him in a Fox News town hall and other interviews, and urged Haley — who appointed him to his Senate seat when she was governor — to get out of the race. (ANI)
