Ex-Biden Aide: Trump’s ‘No More Elections’ Comment Misinterpreted
By Jake Beardslee ·
July 29, 2024
Kate Bedingfield, President Biden's former communications director, has offered a different interpretation of former President Trump's recent controversial statement. At a Turning Point USA event, Trump told supporters, "In four years, you won't have to vote again," sparking concerns among some Democrats about the future of elections. GREG LOVETT/THE PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK
Bedingfield suggested in a post on X that Trump's comment was not implying an end to elections in 2028 if he won. Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
She stated, "I think he is saying I won't be on the ticket either way, so who cares." She added, "Which is hideously damning in its own right, cause this is what the Republican Party has turned itself inside out and shredded its credibility for — to become a stan account for this one awful, narcissistic guy." @KBeds / X
This interpretation aligns with statements from Trump surrogates, including Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who dismissed the comments as a joke during a CNN interview. Jasper Colt / USA TODAY NETWORK
Bedingfield's comments faced criticism from those who felt she was downplaying Trump's perceived threat to democracy. In response, she clarified her position, stating, "Alrighty, I clearly didn’t communicate my point well here and that’s on me. Let me try to better explain. I am not suggesting Trump isn’t a threat to democracy or that he hasn’t said and done despicable things — like Jan 6, like saying he’d be a dictator on day one — he has and it is unacceptable and appalling. It’s rightly one huge reason he can’t go back to the Oval Office." @KBeds / X
Other prominent Democrats and anti-Trump conservatives, including Tommy Vietor and Bill Kristol, supported Bedingfield's perspective. Vietor replied: "Your original point was completely clear and a valid assessment!" @TVietor08 / X
Bill Kristol replied to Bedingfield's post, "FWIW, your point was clear and well-taken, and your critics are mostly dense or foolish. A range of arguments are needed to defeat Trump, and dogmatically asserting there’s one magic argument or kind of argument that works on everyone, is silly and counter-productive." @BillKristol / X
