On Friday, Joe Biden will commemorate the third anniversary of the January 6 attack on Congress by delivering his inaugural presidential campaign speech for 2024 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania—a historically significant site. Due to anticipated inclement weather, Biden will speak on the eve of the anniversary at the location where George Washington’s army faced challenges during the harsh winter of 1777-78, a critical period in securing American independence.
Additionally, on Monday, Biden will address the events of January 6 at the Mother Emanuel AME church in Charleston, South Carolina. This site holds significance as it was where, in June 2015, a gunman targeted and killed nine Black individuals in an attempt to ignite racial tensions.
Nikki Haley, Donald Trump’s closest rival for the Republican nomination, was the governor of South Carolina at the time of the Charleston shooting. She later oversaw the removal of the Confederate battle flag from statehouse grounds but has faced challenges in articulating her stance on the flag’s symbolism.
The focus of Biden’s campaign remains on Trump, who persistently contested his defeat in the 2020 election, propagated false claims of electoral fraud, and encouraged supporters to disrupt the certification of Biden’s victory by Congress. Despite the Capitol attack causing a delay in certification, Biden was inaugurated two weeks later.
In preparation for his Valley Forge speech, the Biden campaign released an ad named “Cause” aimed at outlining the stakes for the upcoming election. In the ad, Biden emphasizes his commitment to preserving American democracy, highlighting the dangers posed by an extremist movement that opposes the foundational principles of democracy.
Wes Moore, a Biden campaign adviser and the first Black governor of Maryland, sees Biden as setting the stage for the future, contrasting it with Trump’s vision for his own political future.
As the Iowa caucuses approach, Trump remains a dominant figure in Republican polling, despite facing multiple legal challenges and controversies. Trump’s characterization of January 6 as a “beautiful day” and his continued support for imprisoned individuals connected to the attack have stirred controversy.
With Trump planning a rally in Iowa just days before the caucuses, Republicans in Congress continue to align themselves with him. Some observers suggest that winning the White House may be Trump’s best strategy to avoid legal consequences.
Recent polling indicates that a significant portion of Americans question the legitimacy of Biden’s 2020 victory, and a notable percentage believes the FBI, rather than Trump, was responsible for inciting the Capitol riot. Biden’s campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, has characterized Maga Republicans, led by Trump, as endorsing an extreme platform that undermines the democratic process, further emphasizing the critical role this election plays in determining the fate of American democracy.