Biden writes in memoir excerpt that Trump led an insurrection on Jan. 6
Biden also writes that Trump's tone in a post-election meeting "bordered on fawning," in an excerpt published Monday by The Atlantic.
Former President Joe Biden writes in his forthcoming memoir, "Promise Me, America," that Donald Trump "led an insurrection" on Jan. 6, 2021, and that Trump's actions that day "should follow him to his grave." The Atlantic published the first excerpt on Monday. The full book is set for release on Nov. 17.
Biden writes that Trump's goal was to remain in power after voters had removed him, and that the rioters were not "peaceful protesters." He criticizes Trump's of Jan. 6 defendants, saying those who attacked police "deserved prison terms." He also writes that Trump and his supporters "preen and posture" as friends of law enforcement.
Biden also recounts a meeting with Trump that ran close to two hours. He says Trump's tone "bordered on fawning" and that Trump told him they would be good friends if not for politics. NBC News says it asked the White House for comment.
In a social media post on Sunday, Biden said his cancer will limit how many conversations about the book he can do.
- Nov. 17release date of Biden's full memoirNBC News
- close to two hourslength of Biden's meeting with Trump, in Biden's accountThe Atlantic
Three sides of the story
8 news outlets reported this · Little coverage from conservative outlets
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Liberal4 outlets
Biden's scathing verdict on Trump and Jan. 6
NBC News leads with Biden's "scathing criticism" of Trump and his line that Jan. 6 "should follow him to his grave." It says it asked the White House for comment, and notes that Trump told Time in September he was considering pardons for members of his administration, pointing to Biden's own pardons. ABC News carries the AP wire report, which calls the excerpt a "sweeping " and says Biden accuses Trump of damaging the country with an administration set to "tear down institutions and inflame hatreds."
That report places the book after Democratic gains and relays Biden's statement that cancer will limit his promotion of it. The Atlantic publishes Biden's own text. It opens with his account of hosting Trump after the 2024 election, then turns to Trump's first-day reversals, the Department of Government Efficiency and the 's immunity ruling, which Biden calls "inexplicable.
Indefensible."
Center3 outlets
Biden's memoir indictment, set against his own standing
The Seattle Times runs the AP report under a headline saying Trump should carry the weight of Jan. 6 "to his grave." It opens with Biden's charge that Trump has deeply damaged the country and world, and ties his line to Trump's "years of lies" about the 2020 result. Subheads lead the reader through the midterm context, "Democrats won big but Biden's reputation still lags," then "unusually complimentary Trump" in the meeting Biden recounts, and the book title's echo of his earlier work about his late son Beau.
The report says many voters still hold skeptical views of Biden's presidency. It quotes his health post: "Some days are better than others." The Hill's report, citing the AP, says the excerpt from the memoir, out Nov. 17, focuses on the Jan. 6 attack and says Biden wrote it should follow Trump "to his grave."
Conservative1 outlet
Biden's harsh words for Trump in memoir
The Washington Times headlines Biden's claim that the Jan. 6 riot should follow Trump "to his grave" and says Biden had "harsh words" for Trump. It adds that the memoir says Trump fawned over him during their 2024 transition meeting. A second Washington Times item, headlined that Trump should carry the weight of the riots "to his grave," says Biden accuses Trump of damaging the country and world with an administration set to "tear down institutions and inflame hatreds."
- The Washington Times: Biden in new book says Jan. 6 riot should follow Trump 'to his grave'
- The Washington Times: Joe Biden, in White House memoir, says Trump should carry the weight of Jan. 6 riots 'to his grave'
Which side made the stronger case?
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- When the Oval Office meeting took place
- NBC News, The Atlantic: after the 2024 election
- ABC News, The Seattle Times: days after the 2020 election
All sources: 10 articles from 8 outlets
Liberal (5)
- ABC News: Jan. 6 should follow Trump 'to his grave,' Biden says in new memoir
- ABC News: Joe Biden, in White House memoir, says Trump should carry the weight of Jan. 6 riots 'to his grave'
- NBC News: Biden says Trump’s Jan. 6 actions ‘should follow him to his grave’
- The Atlantic: Biden: What Trump Did on January 6 ‘Should Follow Him to His Grave’
- The Boston Globe: Joe Biden, in White House memoir, says Trump should carry the weight of Jan. 6 riots ‘to his grave’
Center (3)
- BBC News: Biden says Trump should carry weight of US Capitol riot 'to his grave' in new book
- The Hill: Biden: Jan. 6 riots should follow Trump 'to his grave'
- The Seattle Times: Joe Biden, in White House memoir, says Trump should carry the weight of Jan. 6 riots ‘to his grave’
Conservative (2)
- The Washington Times: Biden in new book says Jan. 6 riot should follow Trump 'to his grave'
- The Washington Times: Joe Biden, in White House memoir, says Trump should carry the weight of Jan. 6 riots 'to his grave'
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