WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign is urging voters to reject violence as a tactic in the upcoming election cycle, particularly criticizing his Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump. Former U.S. Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges, and Biden-Harris Communications Director Michael Tyler emphasized the importance of denouncing the use of violence in political discourse during a press conference.
Tyler stated unequivocally that political violence has no place in American society and should never be tolerated. He condemned Trump for perpetuating themes from his previous presidential campaign, which culminated in the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Tyler highlighted a recent social media post by Trump depicting Biden in a disturbing manner, accusing Trump of promoting violence to regain power.
The press conference took place at the Democratic National Committee building in Washington, D.C., just ahead of Trump’s campaign events in Michigan and Wisconsin. Gonell criticized Trump for his failure to condemn the individuals involved in the Capitol attack, referring to them as “patriots” and “political prisoners.” He expressed disappointment in Trump’s lack of concern for the wellbeing of law enforcement officers injured during the insurrection.
Hodges echoed Gonell’s sentiments, condemning Trump for continuing to incite political violence within the country. He emphasized the contradiction between Trump’s purported support for law enforcement and his encouragement of violent behavior. Hodges specifically called out Trump for offering pardons to insurrectionists who participated in the attack on the Capitol, which resulted in the death of multiple officers.
The officers involved in the press conference rejected any attempts to downplay the severity of the events on January 6, emphasizing the violence and chaos that unfolded that day. They refuted any claims that the attack was nonviolent or merely a tour of the Capitol, highlighting the fear and danger experienced by those present. Gonell emphasized the heroic actions taken by law enforcement that day, without which the outcome could have been far more tragic.