US President Joe Biden has issued harsh warnings about threats to US democracy, referring to extremist forces within the Republican Party that are supported by former President Donald Trump. This was reported by CNN.
"Something dangerous is happening in America right now. There is an extremist movement that does not share the basic beliefs of our democracy: the MAGA movement (Make America Great Again - Trump's campaign slogan in the last election - ed.)," he said.
"There is no doubt that today's Republican Party is being led and intimidated by MAGA extremists. Their extremist agenda, if implemented, would fundamentally change the institutions of American democracy as we know them. Trump says the Constitution gives him the right to do whatever he wants as president. I've never heard a president say that as a joke," Biden said.
The President highlighted Trump's recent proposal to execute General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and noted that the Republican silence on this statement was "resounding."
"We should all remember that democracies don't necessarily die at gunpoint. They can die when people are silent, when they cannot stand up," the president said.
"I believe in free and fair elections and a peaceful transfer of power. I believe there is no place in America - none, none, none - for political violence," Biden added.
