Biden warns Republican Party could set America on ‘path to chaos’

US President Joe Biden has warned the Republican Party of former President Donald Trump in next week's midterm elections could set the nation on "the path to chaos".

Biden issued the grim warning in a speech on Wednesday evening as the FBI and other agencies have forecast that threats of violence from domestic extremists are likely to be on the rise after the election, The Washington Post reported on Thursday. 

Biden called on Americans to unite in opposition to "political violence" in Tuesday's midterm elections, which will determine control of both chambers of Congress and key state governorships.

"We must with an overwhelming voice stand against political violence and voter intimidation, period," he said. "Stand up and speak against it. We don't settle our differences in America with a riot, a mob, or a bullet or a hammer. We settle them peacefully at the ballot box."

He said Trump and his supporters were peddling "lies of conspiracy and malice".

Biden spoke at Washington’s Union Station — steps from the US Capitol, which was attacked by pro-Trump protesters in the wake of the controversial 2020 election — as a growing number of major Republican candidates said they may refuse to concede should they lose.

“It’s unprecedented. It’s unlawful. And it is un-American,” Biden lamented. “As I’ve said before, you can’t love your country only when you win.”

Biden spoke days after an assailant broke into the San Francisco home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and, beat her 82-year-old husband, Paul, with a hammer.

Pelosi said on Monday, “Paul is making steady progress on what will be a long recovery process.”

Biden opened his speech by addressing the gruesome assault.

“We must, with one overwhelming unified voice, speak as a country and say there’s no place, no place for voter intimidation or political violence in America, whether it’s directed at Democrats or Republicans,” the president said. “No place, period. No place, ever.”

Republicans hit back at Biden saying he was seeking to "divide and deflect".

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel issued a statement calling Biden’s words “desperate and dishonest.”

“Joe Biden promised unity but has instead demonized and smeared Americans, while making life more expensive for all,” McDaniel said. “While Republicans remain focused on the issues that matter most to voters, Biden and Democrats are flailing.”

Fears of political violence are growing in the United States ahead of the November 8 midterm elections.

ME