President Joe Biden took a jab at former President Donald Trump on Wednesday, mocking him for his ongoing legal battles in Manhattan courtrooms. But Biden didn’t stop at mere taunting; he’s now capitalizing on the lawfare circus by fundraising off of it.
In a clip released by Biden’s campaign, the president finally agreed to debate Trump, ending months of dodging the possibility. Biden’s snide remark about Trump’s availability to campaign was crystal clear: “So let’s pick the dates, Donald. I hear you’re free on Wednesdays.”
The 14-second video featured at least five jump cuts — likely meaning Biden could not get through 14 seconds worth of speaking without a mistake. The president claimed in the clip that Trump had “lost” to him in the 2020 presidential debates and “is acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal. I’ll even do it twice.”
Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020. Since then, he hasn’t shown up for a debate.
Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again.
Well, make my day, pal. pic.twitter.com/AkPmvs2q4u
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 15, 2024
Biden has also demanded several concessions from Trump for the debate — for it to be held by his allies at CNN, for there to be no audience and for the microphone to be cut off immediately when a candidate’s speaking time is up. Trump, who has been calling for debates against Biden for several months now, has accepted the debate challenge and the parameters requested by the Biden campaign.
To add insult to injury, Biden’s campaign unveiled a $32 T-shirt with the slogan “Free On Wednesdays,” further ridiculing Trump’s courtroom obligations.
Biden’s mocking tone reflects the Democrats’ strategy of weaponizing lawfare against Trump as they trail in the polls. Despite their efforts to tarnish Trump’s image through legal battles, recent polls show Trump leading Biden in key swing states among registered and likely voters.
Since April, Trump has been tied up in a lawfare trial, appearing in court almost daily, except on most Wednesdays. The charges stem from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s indictment last year, alleging Trump falsified business records related to a payment made to a former adult film actress claiming an affair with him.
This isn’t the first time Biden has turned Trump’s legal woes into a punchline. At a recent fundraiser, Biden amused attendees by joking about Trump’s financial troubles due to a separate lawfare case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The case resulted in Trump being found liable for inflating his net worth to obtain loans, leading to a hefty $175 million bond.
Biden’s remarks reflect a troubling trend of using the justice system as a political weapon against opponents. By joking about Trump’s legal battles and fundraising off them, Biden inadvertently admits to the Democrats’ strategy of using endless prosecution to silence their adversaries.
