CNN host Kaitlin Collins grilled former Attorney General Bill Barr on his assertion that President Joe Biden is a greater threat to democracy than Donald Trump—the man who tried to overturn the results of an election he lost.
In an interview on ‘The Source’ Barr said he believes “Trump would do less damage than Biden.”
“All this stuff about a threat to democracy, I think the real threat to democracy is the progressive movement and the Biden administration,” Barr added.
“How specifically is Biden threatening democracy?” Collin’s asked.
“The threat to freedom and democracy has always been on the left,” Barr responded. “It’s the collectivist, socialist, agenda. And that is where we’re losing our freedom. Parents are losing the freedom to control their children’s education. People can’t speak their mind without losing their jobs and things like that. This is worse than the McCarthy era. Where is that coming from? It’s not coming from the right.”
“Those two things that you just noted there, you believe are worse than a president of the United States trying to subvert the will of the people by overturning the results of an election?” Collins asked.
Barr responding by citing the border and other Republican culture wars issues such as “telling people what kind of stoves they can use” and “eliminating cars” as examples of how Biden is threatening democracy.
Collins then referenced Barr’s past comments in which he criticized Trump for trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power on Jan. 6, 2021.
“Name one thing that Biden has done that’s worse than that?” Collins asked Barr.
“I think this whole administration is a disaster,” Barr responded.
“Is it worse than subverting the peaceful transfer of power?” Collins pressed.
Barr said the attempt to prevent the peaceful transfer of power didn’t succeed, which led Collins to note that it was only because former Vice-President Mike Pence decided not to go along with the scheme.
“Now the people who are lining up again say that they will not do what Mike pence did,” Collins said, referring to the people on Trump’s short list of possible running mates in November.
“So just to be clear, you’re voting for someone who you believe tried to subvert the peaceful transfer of power, that can’t even achieve his own policies, that lied about the election even after his attorney general told him that the election wasn’t stolen. And as the former chief law enforcement in this country, you’re going to vote for someone who is facing 88 criminal counts?” the CNN host asked.
“The answer to your question is yes,” Barr responded. “I’m supporting the Republican ticket.”
Barr, who left the Trump administration in December 2020 and has since become one of the former president’s fiercest critics, announced last Wednesday that he will support “the Republican ticket” in November.
“I’ve said all along given two bad choices, I think it’s my duty to pick the person I think would do the least harm to the country,” Barr told Fox News host Bill Hemmer. “And in my mind, I will vote the Republican ticket. I will support the Republican ticket.”
“I think the real danger to the country — the real danger to democracy, as I say — is the progressive agenda,” he continued. “Trump may be playing Russian roulette, but a continuation of the Biden administration is national suicide in my opinion.”
