President Biden, responding to pressure from Democrats to confront former President Donald J. Trump directly about his criminal conviction in the New York hush-money case, took aim at his rival during a high-dollar fund-raiser in Connecticut on Monday night. The event, which was held to support his re-election campaign and the Democratic Party, saw Mr. Biden make sharp remarks about Mr. Trump.
In response, a spokesman for the Trump campaign released a statement attacking Mr. Biden, accusing the president of trying to divert attention from the federal gun charge trial of his son, Hunter Biden, which began on Monday.
Mr. Biden’s pointed comments at the reception, hosted by Richard Plepler, the former chief executive of HBO, marked a significant shift in his approach to addressing Mr. Trump’s conviction by a Manhattan jury. This change was notable as, when asked about the verdict by reporters at the White House on Friday, Mr. Biden simply grinned and walked away without commenting, following remarks about the ongoing war in Gaza. His previous reluctance to engage directly with Mr. Trump on his legal troubles was a consistent part of his strategy.
The fund-raiser speech echoed some parts of Mr. Biden’s televised statement at the White House on Friday, which also addressed the administration’s efforts to end the war between Israel and Hamas. However, many Democrats had urged him to adopt a more aggressive stance against Mr. Trump.
During the event, Mr. Biden also recalled Mr. Trump’s controversial suggestions during a White House coronavirus briefing four years ago, where he implied that bleach could be used to treat the disease. This medical advice was immediately debunked by experts and became a point of ridicule.
Mr. Biden’s criticisms reflect broader concerns among Democrats about the implications of Mr. Trump’s actions and rhetoric on the integrity of American democratic institutions. By directly addressing these issues at the fund-raiser, Mr. Biden signaled a readiness to take on Mr. Trump more assertively as the campaign progresses.
The reception in Greenwich underscored the heightened stakes of the 2024 presidential election, as Mr. Biden and his party seek to galvanize support and resources in the face of Mr. Trump’s continued influence and the unprecedented nature of his candidacy as a convicted felon. With the campaign heating up, both sides are gearing up for what promises to be a contentious and closely watched race.
