Joe Biden is leaning into his image of a listener and healer in contrast to law-and-order President Trump amid violent nationwide uprisings sparked by the death of a black man, George Floyd, in Minneapolis police custody.
“When peaceful protesters are dispersed by the order of the president from the doorstep of the people’s house, the White House — using tear gas and flash grenades — in order to stage a photo op at a noble church, we can be forgiven for believing that the president is more interested in power than in principle,” the former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is expected to say on Tuesday, according to excerpts of prepared remarks. “More interested in serving the passions of his base than the needs of the people in his care.”
His remarks come the morning after Trump delivered a speech while law enforcement dispersed protests around the White House with tear gas and then walked from the White House to historic St. John’s Episcopal Church, which had been set on fire on Sunday night.
Trump called himself a “law-and-order president” and threatened to send military forces to cities around the country unable to end the violence on the streets.
“Look, the presidency is a big job. Nobody will get everything right. And I won’t either. But I promise you this. I won’t traffic in fear and division. I won’t fan the flames of hate,” Biden’s remarks read. “I will seek to heal the racial wounds that have long plagued this country — not use them for political gain.”
At the end of the remarks from Biden was a promise to focus on others instead of himself.
“I’ll do my job and take responsibility. I won’t blame others. I’ll never forget that the job isn’t about me,” Biden will say. “It’s about you. And I’ll work to not only rebuild this nation. But to build it better than it was.”
Biden’s speech follows a statement released on Sunday lightly condemning violence in the demonstrations, and Biden made his first public appearance since early March on Monday listening to community leaders at a black church in Wilmington, Delaware, discuss the nationwide unrest.
