Joe Biden claimed President Trump wants more violence and bloodshed in Kenosha, Wisconsin, claiming the unrest helps his reelection prospects.
“I think he views it as a political benefit,” Biden told MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell on Thursday afternoon, also adding that he believes Trump is “rooting for more violence, not less” in the city.
“He just keeps pouring fuel on the fire. He’s encouraging this,” Biden added.
Biden expressed sympathy with the protesters in Kenosha, many of whom took to the streets following the shooting of Jacob Blake. Those protests quickly turned violent, with riots engulfing the city for days.
“People have a right to be angry. People have a right to protest,” Biden said. “There’s a real problem, and notice, the problem keeps getting worse under the tenure of this president. [Trump is] pouring gasoline on the racial flames that are burning right now.”
On Tuesday night, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse allegedly shot three protesters, killing two and wounding one. He was charged with first-degree murder the next day.
“I condemn violence in any form,” Biden said, before questioning Republicans for not speaking out against Rittenhouse.
