Dem Senator: Republicans Are ‘Aiding and Abetting’ Authoritarian Leaders by Not Congratulating Biden
Congressional Democrats are continuing to hammer their Republican colleagues for holding off on publicly congratulating President-elect Joe Biden . And some are arguing Republicans’ actions are helping authoritarian…
Congressional Democrats are continuing to hammer their Republican colleagues for holding off on publicly congratulating President-elect Joe Biden. And some are arguing Republicans’ actions are helping authoritarian leaders abroad.
During a speech on the Senate floor, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) slammed his Republican colleagues for not congratulating Biden on winning the election.
While he noted that leaders from U.S. allies such as United Kingdom, France, and Germany have offered their congratulations, he also pointed to the comments of the leaders of nations who have not done so yet.
Specifically, he pointed to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo‘s claim that “there will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.”
Van Hollen said, “Here at home, undermining faith” in American democracy.
He continued:
“Who has refused so far to congratulate the next President of the United States Joe Biden? Vladimir Putin, President Xi, the leader of North Korea. What President Trump is doing and what our Republican colleagues are doing by their silence is aiding and abetting these authoritarian leaders.”
He added, “These guys are smiling. You’re an authoritarian leader you want nothing more than to see democracy fail, to see that model fail.”