Biden blasts Trump and MAGA Republicans at Broadway fundraiser claiming they are ‘determined to destroy American democracy’ and ‘bow down’ to Vladimir Putin

President Joe Biden criticized former President Donald Trump and so-called “MAGA Republicans” during a Broadway fundraiser Monday night, claiming they are “determined to destroy American democracy” and “bow down” to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The president is in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, but also used his time in the Big Apple to raise money for his 2024 re-election campaign.

Biden joined first lady Jill Biden onstage at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater at the end of an event that featured Broadway greats Josh Groban, Ben Platt, Sarah Bareilles, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Andrew Rannells and more.

The first couple was played to the spicy tune All That Jazz from the musical Chicago.

The 80-year-old president then blasted his likely rival in the general election and warned those in attendance what a second Trump term could mean.

President Joe Biden arrived in New York on Sunday evening ahead of the UN General Assembly and took part in fundraising on Monday evening

Marine One is captured Sunday evening landing in the Wall Street landing zone as President Joe Biden arrives in New York for the UN General Assembly and a fundraiser

‘I’m participating because democracy is at stake. Because (in) 2024 democracy will be discussed again. And let there be no doubt: Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans are determined to destroy American democracy,” Biden said. “And I will always defend, protect and fight for our democracy.”

The agitated president recalled how he planned to retire from politics but changed his mind after Trump appeared to compare neo-Nazis, KKK members and other white supremacists who marched in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017 to the counter-protesters who confronted them. .

He talked about how democracy was at stake in the 2020 race.

“And thank God we won because of people like you,” the president said. “And I might add: we won convincingly, clearly and without doubt, by seven million votes.”

Biden boasted that his victory held up after “60 lawsuits and an insurrection on January 6.”

“So now I’m running again,” the 80-year-old president said. “You may have noticed that a lot of people seem focused on my age. Well, I get it. Believe me. I know it better than anyone,” Biden said, laughing.

“I’m running because – hear this – I want the entire nation to join me in sending the strongest, clearest, most powerful message possible that political violence is never, never, never acceptable in America,” the president also said.

He praised how he was able to “unify the world” around Ukraine – and stressed that re-electing Trump could allow that pushback.

‘I don’t side with dictators like Putin. Maybe Trump and his MAGA friends can bend, but I can’t…’ the president said.

Biden also disputed Trump’s doomsday rhetoric about the current state of the country.

‘I do not believe that America is a dark, negative nation, a nation of carnage driven by anger, fear and revenge. Donald Trump yes,” Biden said.

‘To his followers he says: ‘I am your retribution.’ I am your retribution?’ the president mused. “We are a failing nation,” he says. “Either they win, or we win and they win, we won’t have a country anymore.” Have you ever heard the President of the United States speak like that?’

“Well, I believe we are a hopeful, optimistic nation, driven by the simple statement that everyone deserves a fair chance, just a chance,” Biden said.

The president left for West Side Story’s Tonight.

Because the event was a fundraiser, cameras were not allowed into the room to capture the president’s speech.