Opinion

Biden’s Harsh Attack on Trump in a Campaign Speech

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Credit…Pete Marovich for The New York Times

To the Editor:

Re “In Blistering Speech, President Condemns Trump as Dire Threat” (news article, Jan. 6):

President Biden’s speech near Valley Forge on Friday, in which he took direct aim at Donald Trump with rhetoric that was hard-hitting and convincing in tone and substance, was his best enumeration yet of the misdeeds that clearly disqualify Mr. Trump from being president.

Finally breaking his reticence, Mr. Biden gave Americans many compelling reasons why a restoration of the deeply flawed and authoritarian Mr. Trump to the presidency would be disastrous and perhaps fatal for the cause of democracy. Clearly, the president and his team must be relentless in transmitting this message to the American people between now and November.

But to regain the trust and confidence that propelled his victory over Mr. Trump in 2020, Mr. Biden will need to do more now than dwell on the perils that would face democracy should the former president prevail, vitally important as that is. He also needs to energize and reassure all voter groups with a positive view of where he plans to take the country to improve the lives of ordinary Americans. Personally engaging soon on immigration and the border would be a good place to start.

Roger Hirschberg
South Burlington, Vt.

To the Editor:

President Biden’s speech brings to mind the words of Thomas Paine. Shortly after America declared its independence from Britain, when morale in Washington’s army was at a low point, Paine, author of “Common Sense” and “The American Crisis,” wrote, “These are the times that try men’s souls.”

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