Battle for the Soul of the Nation speech
Date | September 1, 2022 |
---|---|
Time | 8:03 P.M. EDT |
Venue | Independence Hall |
Location | Philadelphia |
Coordinates | 39°56′56″N 75°9′0″W / 39.94889°N 75.15000°WCoordinates: 39°56′56″N 75°9′0″W / 39.94889°N 75.15000°W |
Website | www |
The Battle for the Soul of the Nation was a speech given by U.S. President Joe Biden on September 1, 2022 and took place at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
Speech
The Biden's main theme was that Donald Trump and his followers, so-called "MAGA Republicans", were a threat to the country and democracy. He contrasted them against "mainstream Republicans" who are not as extreme in their beliefs per Biden. Biden also talked about law and order issues around stricter gun laws and his support for the Department of Justice's and the FBI's investigation into Trump.
"Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic."
— Joseph R. Biden
Biden denounced the promotion of violence and the use of force, saying that "It's never appropriate. Never."
Biden delivered the speech in front of an audience of a few hundred.
Context
The speech was given outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia where the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted by America's Founding Fathers.
Approximately 2 months prior to the 2022 midterm elections, Joe Biden was experiencing a slight rebound in approval rating following a period of inflation and high gas prices.[citation needed] This speech was noted as a contrast and turnaround from Biden's typical message of bipartisanship since the 2020 Presidential Election. The speech also came amid controversy of the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, where the FBI raided former President Trump's Florida home where he reportedly kept classified documents.
Response
Although the speech was praised by most Democrats, Republicans harshly criticized Biden's speech as divisive. On September 4 in a rally, Trump characterized it as "the most vicious, hateful, and divisive speech ever delivered by an American president." House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy wrote on Twitter that "President Biden has chosen to divide, demean, and disparage his fellow Americans—simply because they disagree with his policies." The Washington Post editorial board criticized Biden's speech for partisanship.