President Joe Biden traveled to Florida on Tuesday to confront former President Donald Trump on his own turf and on the issue of abortion.
Biden appeared before supporters at a community college in Tampa, a week before Florida bans abortions after six weeks.
He called Trump, his opponent in the 2024 general election, solely responsible for the “cruelty and chaos” that occurred after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
“He described Dobbs’ decision as a miracle,” Biden said of Trump. “I think it comes from that Bible he’s trying to sell.”
“I almost wanted to buy one just to see what the heck is in it,” Biden added of the $60 purchase.
President Joe Biden traveled to Florida on Tuesday to confront former President Donald Trump on his own turf and on the issue of abortion.
Supporters of President Joe Biden hold signs reading “Restore Roe” at the president’s speech on the abortion issue Tuesday at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida.
In January, just days before the Iowa caucuses, which Trump easily won, the former Republican president participated in a Fox News town hall and boasted of the “miracle” of ending women’s constitutional right to an abortion.
Former President Donald Trump, who was in court Tuesday, holds up a Bible he is selling for $60.
Trump warned, however, that Republicans who support extreme bans are being “decimated” in the election.
Biden pointed to that political reality Tuesday, noting that Trump is “concerned” about voters’ plan to hold the presumptive Republican nominee accountable.
“Donald Trump is concerned that voters will hold him accountable for the cruelty and chaos he has created,” Biden said.
“The bad news for Trump is that we will hold him accountable,” Biden continued. “We are…he should be held accountable.”
Florida voters have the ability to rescind the abortion ban if they approve Amendment 4 in November, which would allow abortions up to the point of viability, which is generally considered around 24 weeks.
That measure needs the support of 60% of Florida voters.
Biden’s campaign hopes to energize enough pro-choice voters to give the president a chance to flip the state.
Trump won Florida by a 3.4-point margin in the 2020 campaign, improving on his performance four years earlier, when he beat Hillary Clinton in the state by 1.6 points.
“I think Florida is in play nationally,” Biden said after his prepared remarks.
“These elections are basic, old-fashioned elections,” the president continued, explaining that everything will focus on participation.
The Biden campaign maintains that once Florida’s law goes into effect, there will effectively be an abortion ban in the entire southeastern part of the nation.
Nearly 7,000 women traveled from out of state last year to have an abortion performed by doctors in Florida, according to a report from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.
Florida voters have the ability to rescind the abortion ban if they approve Amendment 4 in November, which would allow abortions up to the point of viability, which is generally considered around 24 weeks.
That measure needs 60% support from voters.
Trump has yet to say how he would vote on Amendment 4.
Abortion is prohibited in most cases in 14 states.
Seven other states have restrictions that prevent abortion between six and 18 weeks of pregnancy.