Joe Biden Says Donald Trump Is 'Rooting For More Violence'

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden accused President Donald Trump of fanning the flames of racial unrest in order to bolster his reelection prospects.

Ahead of Trumps nomination acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention on Thursday, Biden addressed the violence in Wisconsin sparked by the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man shot seven times in his back, leaving him paralyzed.

He views this as a political benefit. Hes rooting for more violence, not less, Biden said during an interview with MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell, pointing to comments from White House adviser Kellyanne Conway calling the protests a political boost for Trump. (Watch below.)

The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on whos best on public safety and law and order, Conway, who is stepping down from her White House job next week, said earlier on Thursday.

Biden also responded to Vice President Mike Pence s RNC speech in which he said people wont be safe in Joe Bidens America and depicted the election as a choice between law and order and lawlessness.

The problem we have right now is were in Donald Trumps America, Biden said on MSNBC. COVID is out of control.

He added: What bothers me the most, is that hes pouring gasoline on the racial flames that are burning now. ... This is a real problem, and it keeps getting worse under this president.

Hundreds of people have been demonstrating against police brutality in Kenosha since video of the shooting, which is under federal investigation, was posted online. Fires set during protests left many buildings damaged or destroyed. A 17-year-old white youth who joined other heavily armed vigilantes at the protests was charged with shooting three people, killing two. The suspect, Kyle Rittenhouse, attended a Trump rally in January.

I condemn violence in any form, whether its looting or whatever it is, Biden said in Thursdays interview. He questioned why the right hasnt denounced some of the militia folks at the protests or the 17-year-old accused gunman.

Biden also declined to take House Speaker Nancy Pelosis advice that he refuse to debate Trump. The House leader said any debate with the president would belittle the forum and legitimize conversation with him.

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Im going to debate him, Biden said. Im going to be a fact-checker on the floor, while Im debating him.

Watch Bidens interview with Andrea Mitchell:

Hes rooting for more violence, not less ... this happens to be Donald Trumps America Joe Biden pic.twitter.com/xDjUog5qAI

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Hes rooting for more violence, not less ... this happens to be Donald Trumps America Joe Biden pic.twitter.com/xDjUog5qAI
Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 27, 2020