Despite his previous strong criticisms of former President Donald Trump, Bill Barr, the former Attorney General, has surprisingly declared that he would vote for Trump over President Joe Biden in the upcoming 2024 election. This declaration has left analysts and the public alike puzzling over Barr’s rationale, especially given his past denouncement of Trump’s fitness for office and his direct involvement in the aftermath of the 2020 election.
In an interview with CNN, Barr stated, “I think that Biden is unfit for office,” and went on to argue, “I think Trump would do less damage than Biden, and I think all this stuff about a threat to democracy – I think the real threat to democracy is the progressive movement and the Biden administration.” This stance seems to mark a stark departure from Barr’s earlier position, where he labeled Trump’s alleged actions to subvert the peaceful transfer of power as “nauseating” and “despicable.”
Barr was prompted to clarify his current position on Trump, who is facing a litany of legal issues. When pressed by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins if he would still support Trump, Barr replied affirmatively, stating, “The answer to the question is yes,” and “I’m supporting the Republican ticket.” This endorsement comes even after personal insults from Trump, who ridiculed Barr publicly, calling him various derogatory names. In an uncharacteristically mild response, Barr simply laughed off the insults, labeling them as “Classic Trump.”
Barr’s preference for Trump over Biden takes on additional layers of complexity considering the potential implications for the nation. In his CNN interview, he minimized Trump’s attempts to disrupt the peaceful transition of power by rhetorically asking, “Did he succeed?” and then justifying his choice by saying, “I’m very troubled by it and that’s why it’s not an easy decision, but I think when you have a Hobson’s choice, you have to pick the lesser of two evils.”
Barr’s decision has raised eyebrows, especially since his endorsement appears to align with his historical political leanings, but conflicts with his condemnation of Trump’s alleged attempts to manipulate the fundamental processes of U.S. governance. He reiterated his alignment with Trump’s policies despite the tumultuous nature of his administration, claiming that the administration was victorious in courts and that the policies were sound.
The Supreme Court’s recent consideration of whether presidents should not have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for their actions while in office may add another dimension to Barr’s support for Trump. Barr, who maintains that he would’ve liked to see the election subversion case tried before the election, disagrees with Trump’s claims of sweeping immunity. However, his ultimate support for the Republican ticket seems unwavering, even as he calls for precision in determining where exactly Trump might have crossed legal lines.
Relevant articles:
– Even Bill Barr Should Prefer Joe Biden, theatlantic.com, 04/29/2024
– Barr, who said Trump shouldn’t be near Oval Office, says he will vote for him in 2024, CNN, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 03:46:36 GMT
– Bill Barr responds to Trump insults by doubling down on voting for him over ‘unfit’ Biden, New York Post, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 17:52:00 GMT
– Bill Barr Is Happy to Debase Himself for Donald Trump Again, Mother Jones, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 13:38:31 GMT
– Kaitlan Collins Ignores Bill Barr’s Role in the Effort that Framed Joe Biden, Emptywheel, Sun, 28 Apr 2024 21:44:55 GMT