It seems like everyone is talking about the former president’s latest indictment — everyone, that is, except the current president.
President Joe Biden has not spoken publicly about the indictment of his predecessor, Donald Trump, and while some Republicans may accuse him of pulling strings behind the scenes, he insists the Biden White House remains above the fray.
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“I have never once, not one single time, suggested to the Justice Department what they should do or not do relative to bringing a charge or not bringing a charge,” Biden told reporters last week. “I’m honest.”
That pledge extends to people working for Biden, according to Politico.
The president has not only barred his White House staff, who are prevented by law from making overt political statements, but also his campaign and the Democratic National Committee from speaking about Trump’s arrest.
It’s a strategy that has worked well for Biden so far. Republicans derided him as “basement Biden” for his low-key 2020 presidential campaign only to see him unseat Trump from the White House. Two years later, Biden ceded the spotlight in the midterm elections, and his party outperformed expectations as a result.
So far, that appears to be the playbook for 2024 as well.
“Biden is smart to stay out of [Trump’s indictment] personally, although complete silence comes with risks,” Republican strategist John Feehery said. “If he ceded the entire narrative-shaping ground to Trump, Trump could successfully paint himself as a martyr of overzealous partisan Democrats, a charge that most Republicans already agree with. But Biden has his own scandal-liabilities, so he is better off keeping quiet.”
That last point may be another reason Biden is keeping quiet. His scandal-plagued son, Hunter, is under investigation by the Department of Justice. Biden himself is also under special counsel investigation for his handling of classified documents, while GOPers want his foreign dealings as vice president under the microscope too.
Trump, by contrast, isn’t shy about attacking Biden. Among many other statements, Trump promises if reelected to appoint a special prosecutor to go after Biden and his family. Poll shows that many voters have their doubts as well.
Plenty of congressional Republicans are making the case that Biden is corrupt, such as House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY).
“Today is a dark day for our country as Joe Biden continues to fully weaponize the federal government against President Trump, his leading opponent for the White House in 2024,” Stefanik said when Trump was arrested. “The American people see the glaring double standard.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre keeps getting asked about the Trump indictment but hasn’t taken the bait. She repeatedly declined to comment on any and all aspects of the case, even on the issue of whether cameras should be allowed in the courtroom, but did repeat Biden’s pledge that his Justice Department is independent.
The Biden campaign and the DNC did not respond to questions from the Washington Examiner.
The only person so far to break Biden protocol is first lady Jill Biden, who expressed shock that Republicans still support Trump after the arrest.
Otherwise, team Biden is keeping quiet, as it should, argues Democratic strategist Brad Bannon.
“In this case, silence is golden,” Bannon said. “Let Trump be Trump.”
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Especially as an incumbent, Joe Biden can be seen calmly overseeing the federal government while letting Trump’s noise and distractions showcase a clear contrast, he adds.
“Joe Biden is the voice of calm, and Donald Trump is the voice of chaos,” Bannon said. “Biden can’t do any more damage to Trump than Trump does to himself.”
