During a recent press briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that President Joe Biden believes his former election rival, former President Donald Trump, is a fascist. The confirmation came in response to a question regarding former White House chief of staff John Kelly's assertion that Trump meets the definition of a fascist.
Jean-Pierre emphasized the President's concerns about threats to democracy and referenced Trump's own statements about becoming a dictator. She highlighted that this view is not exclusive to the current administration but has also been expressed by former officials who worked under Trump.
When pressed for clarification on whether President Biden personally believes Trump is a fascist, Jean-Pierre reiterated that the former president's own words, such as claiming he would be a dictator on day one, cannot be ignored. The White House press secretary affirmed that the administration agrees with the characterization of Trump as a fascist.
John Kelly, a retired Marine general who served as Trump's chief of staff, recently stated in interviews that Trump aligns with the general definition of a fascist and expressed desires for a leadership style akin to that of historical figures like Hitler.
The confirmation of President Biden's belief adds to the ongoing political discourse surrounding the characterization of Trump's leadership style and its implications for democracy and governance.