Biden blasts Trump, MAGA Republicans at Broadway fundraiser, saying they are ‘determined to destroy American democracy’ and ‘bow’ to Vladimir Putin

President Joe Biden blasted former President Donald Trump and so-called “MAGA Republicans” at a Broadway fundraiser Monday night, saying they were “determined to destroy American democracy” and “s ‘bow’ to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The president is in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, but also used his time in the Big Apple to raise money for his 2024 re-election campaign.

Biden joined first lady Jill Biden on stage at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater at the end of an event featuring Broadway greats including Josh Groban, Ben Platt, Sarah Bareilles, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Andrew Rannells and more .

The first couple was performed to the catchy tune, All That Jazz, from the musical Chicago.

The 80-year-old president then hammered his likely general election challenger, warning the public of what a second Trump term could mean.

President Joe Biden arrives in New York on Sunday evening ahead of the United Nations General Assembly and attended fundraisers Monday evening.

Marine One is captured Sunday evening landing at the Wall Street landing zone as President Joe Biden arrives in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and fundraising campaign.

“I am running because democracy is at stake. Because in 2024, democracy will be there again. And there is no doubt that Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans are determined to destroy American democracy,” Biden said. “And I will always defend, protect and fight for our democracy.”

The fiery president recalled that he had planned to stay away from politics, but he changed his mind after Trump appeared to equate neo-Nazis, KKK members and other white supremacists who have parade in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017, to counterprotesters who confronted them. .

He explained how much democracy is at stake in the 2020 race.

“And thank God, thanks to people like you, we won,” the president said. “And I might add that we won convincingly, clearly, without doubt, by seven million votes.”

Biden boasted that his victory remained firm after “60 legal challenges and an insurrection on January 6.”

“So now I’m running again,” the 80-year-old president said. “As you may have noticed, a lot of people seem to focus on my age. Well, I understand. Believe me. I know that better than anyone,” Biden said with a laugh.

“I’m running because – listen to this – I want the entire nation to join me in sending the loudest, clearest, most powerful message possible that political violence in America is never, never, never acceptable,” the president also said.

He touted his ability to “rally the world” around Ukraine – and insisted that electing Trump again could allow for a turnaround.

“I won’t side with dictators like Putin. Maybe Trump and his MAGA friends can bow, but I won’t…’ the president said.

Biden also took issue with Trump’s apocalyptic rhetoric about the current state of the country.

‘I do not believe that America is a dark and negative nation, a nation of carnage driven by anger, fear and revenge. Donald Trump does,” Biden said.

“To his followers he said: “I am your punishment. » Am I your revenge? » reflected the president. “We are a bankrupt nation,” he said. “Either they win or we win and they win, we don’t have a country anymore.” Have you ever heard the President of the United States say that?

“Well, I believe we are an optimistic, hopeful nation driven by a simple proposition that everyone deserves a fair chance, just a chance,” Biden said.

The president came out for Tonight’s West Side Story.

Because it was a fundraiser, cameras were not allowed in the room to film the president’s speech.