Biden Sharpens Attacks on Trump, Warns His Agenda Would ‘Fundamentally Alter’ Democracy

President Joe Biden bluntly warned on Thursday that former President Donald Trump’s agenda will "fundamentally alter" American democracy, sharpening his attacks on the leading GOP presidential candidate and his allies.

“There is an extremist movement that does not share the basic beliefs of our democracy: The MAGA movement,” the president said during a speech in Arizona. “I know because I've been able to work with Republicans my whole career. But there's no question that this Republican Party is driven and intimidated by MAGA Republican extremists.”

“Their same agenda, if carried out, would fundamentally alter the institutions of American democracy as we know it,” the president added.

Biden’s speech also honored the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who was a longtime colleague of the president's in the Senate. 

The president has sought to make protecting democracy a major theme of his reelection campaign, as he did in 2020. Trump, who has repeatedly sown doubt about the results of the last presidential election, faces four indictments, two of which involve his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia and his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. 

Referring to his predecessor by name, Biden criticized Trump for believing that he was above the Constitution.

“Trump says the Constitution gave him ‘the right to do whatever he wants as president,’” Biden said. “I've never heard a president say that in jest.”

Biden derided “MAGA extremism,” saying that Trump and his allies are openly attacking the freedom of press, implementing laws that suppress voters, implementing book bans and accusing the military of being “weak and woke.”

“This MAGA threat is a threat to the brick and mortar of our democratic institutions,” Biden said. “But it's also a threat to the character of our nation that gives our constitution life.”

During his remarks, Biden was interrupted by a climate activist calling for the president to declare a climate emergency. 

"If you shush up, I'll meet with you immediately after this," he said. Biden then continued his speech, saying: "Democracy is never easy, as we just demonstrated."

The president also slammed Trump for comments he made specifically about McCain and other military service members.

Trump often criticized McCain, at one point saying he was not a war hero for being captured in Vietnam, which drew a large backlash from officials in both parties. McCain withdrew his support of Trump ahead of the 2016 general election and gave a famous “thumbs down” vote to prevent the Affordable Care Act from being repealed in 2017.

Biden criticized the former president’s past remarks referring to service members who died in war “suckers and losers.”

“It’s not only wrong, it’s un-American,” Biden said. “But it never changes. The MAGA extremists across the country have made it clear where they stand.”

Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Programme and John McCain’s widow, said the president and her husband differed on many political issues through their respective careers.

“The great causes that brought them together and were most important to our nation are shared in this venture,” Cindy McCain said. “It is my true hope that it will also serve as a motivation to inspire a new generation to take on the mantle of public service and to fight for the worthy causes they believe in, just as John did.”

Biden closed his remarks by noting the United States will commemorate 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in three years.

“Now's our time to continue to choose and secure a sacred cause of American democracy,” Biden said. "I know we can meet this moment. John knew we could meet this moment. … Let's never quit. Let's never hide from history. Let's make history. If we do that, we'll have done our duty to our country and each other.”

Biden's speech came one day after the second GOP presidential debate, which did not feature Trump, and the same day House Republicans held their first impeachment inquiry hearing targeting him.