SEATTLE — President Joe Biden swung through Seattle to raise money for his reelection campaign Friday, boasting at a downtown reception about his administration’s record on jobs and climate, and slamming Donald Trump as a threat to democracy.
Biden, who touched down at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport shortly before 5 p.m., spoke to a crowd of a few hundred donors, warning of the consequences if Trump wins this fall.
“What’s at risk in 2024 are our freedoms and our very democracy,” Biden said, citing the refusal by Trump and some of his top allies, including his potential vice presidential picks, to commit to accepting the results of the election.
Biden was introduced by Gov. Jay Inslee, who praised the president’s record on fighting climate change, predicting that “when they look back on his presidency 100 years from now, his work on climate will be his finest hour.”
Biden, in turn, complimented Inslee’s leadership and twice hinted he might recruit him for a second-term administration.
“When we win, he ain’t staying in Washington state,” Biden said at the start of his speech. Later, he said he’s relied on Inslee’s advice and said: “I’m not joking. Jay, there’s no place to hide.”
During the roughly 18-minute, mostly low-key talk in a domed reception hall at Lotte Hotel Seattle, formerly First United Methodist Church of Seattle, Biden pointed again and again to Trump’s recent interview with Time magazine about his plans for a second term — including using the National Guard to sweep up and deport millions of undocumented immigrants, who Trump has said are “poisoning the blood” of America.
“That’s not who we are,” Biden said.
Citing the toll of gun violence in the U.S., Biden vowed to again pursue a renewed federal ban on “assault weapons.”
“The idea of children going to school learning how to duck and cover is sick. It’s sick!” he said.
The president has scheduled no public events for his visit, which has snarled rush-hour traffic with his motorcade and delayed flights.
The crowd of donors rose repeatedly for enthusiastic standing ovations as he asked for their support in the coming election.
Outside, demonstrators banged on drums and yelled slogans criticizing the president for his support of Israel’s war against Hamas.
“Biden, Biden, you can’t hide! We charge you with genocide,” they chanted.