WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump were confirmed as their parties’ choices for president on Tuesday, winning by large margins in a series of less significant primaries. This sets the stage for a repeat of the general election that many voters are not happy about.
The results in Georgia, Mississippi, and Washington state were never uncertain. Biden, a Democrat, and Trump, a Republican, did not face major opposition. But the size of their victories gave each of them the majority of delegates needed to claim their party’s nomination at the national conventions in the summer.
Tuesday marked a defining moment for a nation that is unsure about its options for the 2024 presidential election, even though the primary calendar is not even halfway finished.
It is now definite that the upcoming election will see a repeat of two flawed and unpopular presidents. At 81, Biden is already the oldest U.S. president, while the 77-year-old Trump is dealing with legal issues and is the first president since 1912 to seek re-election while facing criminal charges. It is very likely that their rematch will further intensify the nation’s deep political and cultural divisions over the next eight months.
Biden celebrated his nomination and criticized Trump for posing a serious threat to democracy in a statement.
Biden said Trump is running a campaign based on resentment, revenge, and retribution that endangers the very concept of America.
He added, "I am honored that voters from the diverse Democratic Party across the country have once again put their trust in me to lead our party and our country at a time when the danger posed by Trump is greater than ever."
In a video shared on social media, Trump celebrated what he called “a great day of victory.”
“But now we have to get back to work because we have the worst president in the history of our country,” Trump said of Biden. “So, we’re not going to take time to celebrate. We’ll celebrate in eight months when the election is over.”
Both candidates won the primaries in Georgia, Mississippi, and Washington, all of which are crucial swing states. Trump also secured victory in Hawaii's Republican caucus.
Despite their strong words, the road ahead will be challenging for both expected nominees.
Trump is facing 91 felony counts in four criminal cases related to his mishandling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, among other alleged offenses. He is also facing increasing scrutiny regarding his policy plans and his relationships with some of the world’s most dangerous dictators. Trump held a private meeting on Friday with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has eroded democracy in his country.
Biden, who would be 86 at the end of his next term, is working to convince a skeptical electorate that he is still physically and mentally capable of handling the most important job in the world. Both Democrats and Republicans are dissatisfied with his approach to immigration and inflation.
He is also facing more disagreement from the progressive part of his party, who are very angry that he hasn't taken more action to stop Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. Activists and religious leaders in Washington urged Democrats to vote “uncommitted” to show their anger.
In Seattle, 26-year-old voter Bella Rivera said they hoped their “uncommitted” vote would serve as a wake-up call for the Democratic party.
“If you really want our votes, if you want to win this election, you’re going to have to show a little bit more either support of Palestinian liberation — that’s something that’s very important to us — and stopping funds to Israel,” said Rivera, a preschool teacher who uses they/them pronouns.
Almost 3,000 miles away in Georgia, retiree Donna Graham said she would have preferred another Republican nominee over Trump, but she said there’s no way she’d ever vote for Biden in the general election.
“He wasn’t my first choice, but he’s the next best thing,” Graham said of Trump. “It’s sad that it’s the same old matchup as four years ago.”
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