Washington, DC – As the 2024 election campaign heats up, President Joe Biden’s team is urging voters to reject violence as a means of political discourse, particularly highlighting comments made by his opponent, former President Donald Trump. The call for civility comes in the wake of a press conference where former U.S. Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, DC Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges, and Biden-Harris Communications Director Michael Tyler emphasized the need to denounce Trump’s approach to campaigning.
Tyler emphasized that political violence has no place in American society and should never be tolerated. The team expressed concerns over Trump’s campaign tactics, including the recycling of themes from his previous unsuccessful bid for the presidency that culminated in the violent insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Trump’s recent social media post depicting Biden in a disturbing manner was highlighted as an example of his inclination towards violence in his pursuit of power.
The press conference, held at the Democratic National Committee building in Washington, DC, coincided with Trump’s upcoming campaign stops in Michigan and Wisconsin. Gonell condemned Trump for embracing individuals convicted of crimes related to the Capitol attack, referring to them as “patriots” and “political prisoners.” He criticized Trump’s failure to denounce the violence of January 6, stating that it dishonored the officers who risked their lives that day.
Hodges joined in the condemnation, accusing Trump of perpetuating political violence by promoting false claims about the 2020 election. He emphasized that Trump’s rhetoric undermines law enforcement and called attention to the impact of such dangerous narratives on the events of January 6. Both officers expressed concerns about Trump’s intentions and echoed the urgency for Americans to consider the implications of his statements on future political activities.
In their remarks, the officers refuted attempts to downplay the severity of the Capitol attack, emphasizing the real threat and danger they faced that day. Despite efforts by some to recast the events as nonviolent or exaggerated, Gonell affirmed the traumatic experiences they endured and emphasized the critical role law enforcement played in protecting lives during the chaos. The pervasive impact of Trump’s rhetoric on fostering political unrest was a central theme of the press conference, underscoring the need for accountability and a rejection of violent tactics in political discourse.