Biden on people calling him a socialist: ‘Give me a break, what idiots’ - The Hill

President Biden connected Saturday said radical holding signs calling him a socialist were idiots, portion informing that Republicans privation to chopped wellness attraction benefits for Americans 3 days earlier Election Day.

“Social information and Medicare are much than authorities programs, they’re a promise. They’re a promise. Work hard and lend and erstwhile the clip comes, things volition beryllium easier for you,” helium said successful remarks astatine Jones Elementary successful Joliet, Ill. “It’s a rock-solid guarantee, an iron-clad commitment. Generations of Americans person counted connected it and it works.”

“I emotion those signs erstwhile I came successful — socialism. Give maine a break, what idiots,” the president added. “No 1 ever doubts I mean what I say, sometimes of people I accidental each that I mean.”

There were dozens of protesters lasting beside the roadworthy to the simple schoolhouse with signs bearing comments ranging from “Let’s spell Brandon,” to “where’s Nancy,” arsenic good arsenic “socialism sucks.”

The president warned successful his remarks that millions of Americans would suffer wellness attraction coverage, benefits and protections nether legislature Republicans’ plans. Some Republicans person pledged to repeal aspects of the Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed earlier this twelvemonth with lone enactment from Democrats, if they instrumentality power of Congress this midterm cycle.

“Everything I conscionable talked astir — $2,000 headdress connected medicine drugs, $35 a period headdress connected insulin, much powerfulness for Medicare to little cause prices — each gone, each gone if they succeed,” Biden said. “Well, they’re not going to win astatine slightest for the adjacent 2 years due to the fact that I’ll veto it.”

He warned that legislature Republicans “are besides coming for your Social Security and Medicare benefits.” He mentioned a connection released successful February by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) that included a connection to sunset authorities programs each 5 years, meaning lawmakers would request to ballot to widen Medicare and Social Security.

“I mean, what’s with these guys?” Biden asked. “In different words, it goes retired of beingness if we don’t ballot to support it, isn’t that wonderful?”

Additionally, helium noted that Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) suggested earlier this twelvemonth that backing for Social Security and Medicare should beryllium approved yearly done the budgeting process.

The president was joined for his remarks successful Illinois by Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), arsenic good arsenic Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.).

Biden has precocious ramped up his warnings that Republicans would halt wellness attraction benefits, on with pre-Election Day warnings that ostentation would beryllium worse nether a Republican-controlled Congress.

The president connected Tuesday made a akin plea successful Florida, erstwhile helium focused his remarks connected however a Republican-controlled Congress could endanger Social Security and Medicare benefits for millions of Americans.

Following his sojourn to Illinois, Biden volition caput to Philadelphia for a rally with erstwhile President Obama to boost Democratic senatorial campaigner John Fetterman.

The Illinois halt is different connected a database of typically bluish strongholds the president is visiting successful the days earlier Election Day connected Tuesday. He besides traveled to New Mexico and California this week and volition marque stops successful New York connected Sunday and Maryland connected Monday.