President Biden will always defend American democracy and stand with the men and women in law enforcement who put their lives on the line to protect it, including the brave officers who defended the Capitol against a violent mob on January 6. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, who’s repeatedly promised to be a dictator on “day one,” if elected and warned of a “bloodbath” if not, continues to give election deniers and insurrectionists a platform, from installing dangerous conspiracy theorists to lead “election integrity” efforts at the RNC to promising pardons for January 6 insurrectionists. 

Police officers who put their lives on the line to defend democracy on January 6 are emphasizing the stakes between President Biden’s plan to protect our democracy and Trump’s extreme MAGA agenda that would erode our institutions. 

MSNBC: “As Donald Trump aligns himself with Jan. 6 rioters, Joe Biden and his campaign are aligning themselves with police officers who defended the Capitol.”

CBS News: “‘Donald Trump and his unhinged quest for power and retribution pose an existential threat to our democracy,’ [Officer Harry] Dunn said in a statement released by the campaign. ‘He continues to embrace political violence, going as far as saying there will be a ‘bloodbath’ if he loses again and promising to be a dictator on ‘day one’ and pardon January 6 rioters. Donald Trump only cares about Donald Trump, which is why come November, Americans will reject his extremism once and for all and reelect the only candidate in the race committed to protecting our democracy and standing up for law enforcement: Joe Biden.’”

The Hill: “Police officers attacked on Jan. 6 to campaign for Biden”

President Biden has stood alongside police officers who defended the Capitol on January 6, honoring their bravery and their commitment to protecting our democracy.

CBS News: “President Biden signed legislation Thursday awarding four Congressional Gold Medals to members of the U.S. Capitol Police and D.C. Metropolitan Police Department who defended the U.S. Capitol from the mob of former President Donald Trump’s supporters on January 6. Mr. Biden gave a speech praising the heroism and patriotism of the officers. 

“The bill landed on Mr. Biden’s desk after the Senate cleared the measure Tuesday by unanimous consent. It passed the House in June with opposition from 21 Republicans.”

NPR News: “Biden honors police officers and election workers 2 years after the Capitol attack”

The Hill: “Biden signs bill streamlining emergency support for Capitol Police”

President Biden is running on protecting our democracy and continues to stand firm in defending it.

CBS News: “‘As your president, I will fight for democracy with every fiber of my being, and I’m asking every American to join me,’ Mr. Biden added. He later called on Americans to vote in the upcoming elections.”

CNN: “‘We can’t take democracy for granted any longer,’ the president said from Union Station in Washington, blocks from the US Capitol where a mob attempted to interrupt the certification of the 2020 election.”

Trump downplayed the violent acts that happened against police on January 6, and plans to pardon rioters as one of his first acts if reelected. 

Associated Press: “Trump downplays Jan. 6 on the anniversary of the Capitol siege and calls jailed rioters ‘hostages’”

ABC News: “On the campaign trail, Trump has downplayed the violence that ensued that day and has called those charged and convicted in the attack ‘hostages.’

“‘The J6 hostages, I call them. Nobody has been treated ever in history so badly as those people nobody’s ever been treated in our country,’ Trump said at a rally Friday in Iowa on the eve of the anniversary.”

NBC News: “Trump told Time he was ‘absolutely’ considering pardoning every single Capitol rioter, who he described as ‘J-6 patriots.’ That group would include Jan. 6 defendants caught on tape brandishing or using firearms, stun guns, flagpoles, fire extinguishers, bike racks, batons, a metal whip, office furniture, pepper spray, bear spray, a tomahawk ax, a hatchet, a hockey stick, knuckle gloves, a baseball bat, a massive ‘Trump’ billboard, ‘Trump’ flags, a pitchfork, pieces of lumber, crutches and even an explosive device during the brutal attack that injured about 140 police officers.”

MSNBC: “In January, Donald Trump held a campaign event in New Hampshire and heard from a supporter who urged him to ‘free’ Jan. 6 criminals. ‘We will,’ the former president replied.

“As for when that might happen, the Republican declared in mid-March that pardoning ‘the January 6 Hostages’ whom he believes are being ‘wrongfully imprisoned,’ would be among his ‘first acts’ after returning to the White House. Less than a week later, Trump added additional clarity to his plan: Jan. 6 rioters could expect pardons on ‘the first day’ of his second term.”