President Joe Biden expressed confidence on Friday that the upcoming November election would be "free and fair," but voiced concerns about whether it would remain "peaceful."
In an unplanned appearance at the White House press briefing, Biden was asked by a reporter about his views on the election's fairness and the possibility of unrest. He replied, "I’m confident it will be free and fair. I don’t know whether it will be peaceful."
Biden emphasized the potential risks, pointing to statements made by former President Donald Trump. "The things Trump has said, and what he said after the last election when he didn’t like the results, were very dangerous," Biden remarked.
NBC News has reached out to Trump's campaign for a response.
Biden also voiced apprehension about the Republican approach to the election, referencing comments from Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, during Tuesday's vice-presidential debate. Vance sidestepped a question from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris' running mate, about whether Trump lost the 2020 election.
When asked directly, "Did Trump lose the 2020 election?" Vance replied, "Tim, I’m focused on the future."
Walz criticized Vance's response, calling it "a damning non-answer," adding, "He lost the election. This is not a debate, except in Donald Trump’s world."
Biden echoed Walz's sentiments, noting, "I noticed the Republican vice-presidential candidate didn’t say he’d accept the election outcome. They haven’t even accepted the last one."
On Wednesday, prosecutors filed a brief in the federal election interference case against Trump, accusing him of working in a personal capacity to overturn the 2020 election results.
