Biden Tells Voters ‘MAGA Republicans’ Will Lead US Down a ‘Path of Chaos’

Republican lawmakers question Biden’s priorities and his claim about American democracy

President Joe Biden delivers remarks at Union Station in Washington on Nov. 2, 2022. Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images

President Joe Biden on Nov. 2 told voters to reject “extreme MAGA Republicans” in the midterm elections, saying those politicians are a threat to American democracy and will lead the United States down a “path of chaos.”

Biden made the remarks during a speech at a Democratic National Committee event inside Union Station in Washington. His roughly 20-minute address immediately drew criticism from Republicans, who questioned the president’s priorities after he failed to mention a number of issues important to voters in his talk, including the border crisis, inflation, gas prices, the fentanyl crisis, and China.

The president did briefly talk about the economy, but he went to great extents to say that democracy was also at stake in November.

“I know there’s a lot at stake in these midterm elections, from our economy, to the safety of our streets, to our personal freedoms, the future of health care, Social Security, and Medicare. It’s all important.,” Biden said.

“But there’s something else at stake—democracy itself … our democracy is under threat,” Biden continued. “Democracy is on the ballot this year.”

That threat was posed by “extreme MAGA Republicans,” Biden said, referring to former President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan, Make America Great Again. The president claimed that such Republicans are preparing to question the results of the November elections.

Donald Trump, who was then-U.S. president, arrives to speak at a "Make America Great Again" rally in Newtown, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 31, 2020. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

“Extreme MAGA Republicans aim to question not only the legitimacy of past elections, but elections being held now and into the future,” Biden claimed. “The extreme MAGA element of the Republican Party, which is a minority of that party, as I said earlier, but is its driving force, is trying to succeed where they failed in 2020.”

Biden targeted Trump, arguing that his predecessor’s refusal to “accept he lost” in 2020 has put American democracy “under attack.”

In June, Trump issued a statement outlining his arguments disputing the 2020 election results, including alleged vote-counting stoppage on election night and alleged ballot trafficking schemes.

“It’s estimated that there are more than 300 [Republican] election deniers on the ballot all across America this year,” Biden added, without naming any Republicans.

The president claimed that these “election deniers” are “running for every level of office in America” in November.

“This is a path to chaos in America. It’s unprecedented. It’s unlawful,” Biden charged.

As such, Biden called on voters to place democracy as “an important part” of their decision-making on whom they vote for next week, or “allow the dark forces that thirst for power” to prevail.

GOP Criticism 

Among those leading the criticism of Biden’s Wednesday remarks were House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

“President Biden is trying to divide and deflect at a time when America needs to unite—because he can’t talk about his policies that have driven up the cost of living,” McCarthy wrote on Twitter. “The American people aren’t buying it.”

McConnell also took to Twitter to echo McCarthy’s opinions.

“President Biden is desperate to change the subject from inflation, crime, and open borders. Now he’s claiming that democracy only works if his party wins,” McConnell wrote on Twitter. “What nonsense.”

Many other Republican lawmakers took to Twitter to voice their condemnation, including Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas).

House Foreign Affairs Committee member Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) questions U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington on Capitol Hill on April 28, 2022. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

“Biden gave the most DIVISIVE speech in American history two months ago, and tonight, he outdid himself once again,” Jackson wrote, referring to Biden’s speech in Pennsylvania on Sept. 1.

In that September speech,  Biden accused “MAGA Republicans” of being extremists.

“Biden is going to get served with a whole bunch of Democracy on November 8th. Democrats are going to be SWEPT OUT of power,” Jackson continued.” On Tuesday, MAGA is going to WIN BIG!!!”

Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) called Biden’s speech “partisan rambling.”

“In Biden’s version of democracy, only Democrats are allowed to have power,” Bishop added. “If you’re a Republican, he thinks you’re an ‘autocrat’ supporting ‘dark forces.’”

Bishop added, “Let’s utilize our elections next week to vote these extremist Democrats OUT.”

Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) said Americans deserve a different president.

“Americans deserve a president focused on stopping inflation, crime, and illegal immigration, rather than demonizing his political opponents and desperately trying to distract from his disastrous record,” Hagerty wrote.

“President Biden is completely out of touch with the American people.”