Former President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on President Joe Biden early Wednesday morning, just a day before their first debate for the 2024 presidential election. Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to label Biden a “walking LYING MACHINE” and accused him of spreading disinformation.
The highly anticipated debate, set to air on CNN, has already sparked controversy over the network’s decision not to provide real-time fact-checking. Trump seized on this decision, claiming it was a boon for Biden and his team. “Crooked Joe Biden’s ‘Handlers’ are loudly and profusely complaining that there will be no Fact Checkers during the Debate on Thursday,” Trump posted. “Actually, that is just DISINFORMATION – They could not be happier, because there is nobody that’s as loose with the TRUTH as Crooked Joe.”
Trump’s tirade included a litany of accusations against Biden, ranging from the infamous “51 Fake Intelligence Agents” letter to the “Russia, Russia, Russia” investigation and the “Fake ‘Suckers and Losers Story'” about the military. He also accused Biden of fabricating stories about his personal history, such as his academic achievements and civil rights activism.
The “51 Fake Intelligence Agents” refers to a letter signed by former intelligence officials suggesting that the Hunter Biden laptop story had the hallmarks of Russian disinformation. While the laptop was later confirmed to be real, the initial skepticism was not unfounded given the circumstances of its discovery. Trump’s attorney, Rudy Giuliani, who was involved in the laptop’s release, had been actively seeking damaging information on Biden in Ukraine and had connections with known Russian intelligence figures.
The “Russia, Russia, Russia” remark alludes to Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence during the 2016 election. Although the investigation did not result in any indictments against Trump, it did confirm that his campaign had coordinated with Russian operatives, as detailed in the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report.
Trump’s reference to the “Fake ‘Suckers and Losers Story'” stems from a report in The Atlantic, which claimed that Trump had disparaged American soldiers buried in Normandy. This story was initially dismissed as “fake news” by Trump and his supporters but was later corroborated by his former Chief of Staff, General John Kelly.
Trump also accused Biden of lying about his academic record, claiming he finished first in his law school class when he was actually near the bottom. While Biden did exaggerate his academic performance, stating he was in the top half of his class when he was actually 76th out of 85, he never claimed to be first.
In his post, Trump wrote, “The man is a walking LYING MACHINE, and a Fact Checker’s DREAM. Maybe we should call him ‘Lyin’ Joe’ in addition to Crooked?” This statement is ironic given that a Washington Post analysis found that Trump made 30,573 false or misleading claims during his time in office, averaging 21 false claims per day.
Trump’s early morning rant appears to be a strategic move to undermine Biden’s credibility ahead of the debate. By painting Biden as a habitual liar, Trump aims to preemptively discredit any points Biden might make during the debate. This tactic is not new for Trump, who has a history of using social media to shape public perception and control the narrative.
The debate itself is expected to be a high-stakes event, with both candidates vying for the upper hand. Trump’s attacks on Biden are likely to be a central theme, as he seeks to portray himself as the more honest and capable candidate. However, Trump’s own record of falsehoods and controversies will undoubtedly be a focal point for Biden and the debate moderators.
The absence of real-time fact-checking during the debate has raised concerns about the spread of misinformation. Fact-checking has become an essential tool in modern political discourse, helping to hold candidates accountable for their statements. Without it, viewers may find it challenging to discern the truth from the rhetoric.
As the debate approaches, both candidates are preparing to make their case to the American people. For Trump, this means doubling down on his attacks and attempting to frame Biden as untrustworthy. For Biden, it means countering these attacks and presenting a vision for the future that contrasts with Trump’s record.
In the end, the debate will be a crucial moment in the 2024 election cycle, offering voters a chance to see the candidates side by side and evaluate their policies and character. With so much at stake, both Trump and Biden will be looking to make a lasting impression and gain an edge in the race for the White House.
Source: CNN, The Atlantic, Washington Post, Senate Intelligence Committee Report
