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Some MAGA politicians have referred to President Joe Biden's speech as "an embarrassment" after the president urged voters to reject candidates who are so-called "election deniers" this midterm election.
In Biden's primetime speech on Wednesday, the president said that "democracy was on the ballot" for voters this fall as more than 300 "election deniers" are running for office. Biden said his speech was an "appeal to all Americans, regardless of party, to meet this moment of national and generational importance" and reject candidates that still align with former President Donald Trump.
MAGA politicians quickly rejected Biden's sentiment, and said that the president's speech—delivered six days before the November 8 midterms—had missed the mark on issues that matter most to voters this election.
"Joe Biden just proved to Americans that he doesn't care that you can't afford gas, can't afford food, that our borders are invaded, and you're victims of crime just like Paul Pelosi," Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted Wednesday night.
"They only care about attacking Trump," Greene added. "That's it."
Joe Biden just proved to Americans that he doesn’t care that you can’t afford gas, can’t afford food, that our borders are invaded, and you’re victims of crime just like Paul Pelosi.
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene?? (@RepMTG) November 2, 2022
They only care about attacking Trump.
That’s it.
Trump didn’t cause our problems, Biden did.
Arkansas Representative Aaron Pilkington echoed Greene's tweet, saying that the Biden administration was not focused on inflation, crime or "the failing national economy" ahead of the midterms.
"Not high gas prices, not supply chain issues, not education," Pilkington continued. "But 'Mega Maga Republicans' not accepting the 2020 election results."
Less than a week before the election & this is what the Biden administration is focused on.
— Rep. Aaron Pilkington (@pilkingtonforar) November 3, 2022
Not Inflation
Not Crime
Not the Failing National Economy
Not High Gas Prices
Not Supply Chain Issues
Not Education
But “Mega Maga Republicans” not accepting 2020 election results #arpx https://t.co/qIe4DBwArW
Representative Dan Bishop of North Carolina said that Biden's speech was simply "another embarrassment" and didn't offer a "solution" for voters.
"20 minutes of partisan rambling," Bishop wrote. "Not one solution for the problems he has created."
Biden’s latest speech was yet another embarrassment.
— Rep. Dan Bishop (@RepDanBishop) November 2, 2022
20 minutes of partisan rambling.
Not one solution for the problems he has created.
The president's speech was also attacked by Republicans running for reelection, including Mary Miller, a congressional candidate from Illinois who has been endorsed by Trump.
"Joe Biden gave another dark, authoritarian speech declaring that anyone who opposes him is a 'threat to democracy,'" Miller wrote Wednesday. "On Tue, the American people will soundly reject Biden's authoritarian & un-American message that voting for the candidate of your choice is a 'threat to democracy.'"
Joe Biden gave another dark, authoritarian speech declaring that anyone who opposes him is a “threat to democracy.” On Tue, the American people will soundly reject Biden’s authoritarian & un-American message that voting for the candidate of your choice is a “threat to democracy.”
— Mary Miller (@Miller_Congress) November 2, 2022
A few users expressed that while they agreed with Biden's sentiment, his speech was still the wrong message to the American people who are continuing to battle high inflation and record gas prices.
Ross Kaminsky, a radio talk show host from Denver, Colorado, said that he believes there is "a legitimate conversation to be had about" those who continue to reject the 2020 election results.
"But I think Biden took bad advice...making 'democracy' the subject of his speech tonight when voters are thinking 'I can't afford steak or gas or rent.'"
I do think there's a legitimate conversation to be had about people who won't accept election results. But I think Biden took bad advice (maybe his own) making "democracy" the subject of his speech tonight when voters are thinking "I can't afford steak or gas or rent."
— Ross Kaminsky (@Rossputin) November 3, 2022
Joe Concha, a contributor to Fox News and The Hill, called Biden's speech a "stunning" move by Democrats heading into the final days of campaigning.
"This speech will only energize the other side that much more," Concha tweeted.
It is stunning that this is what the party in power has chosen as its closing argument heading into a midterm where every sane Democratic strategist will concede is about inflation, crime, border, fentanyl, education. This speech will only energize the other side that much more. https://t.co/uERga0ok0l
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) November 3, 2022
Newsweek reached out to Biden's office for comment.
About the writer
Kaitlin Lewis is a Newsweek reporter on the Night Team based in Boston, Massachusetts. Her focus is reporting on national ... Read more