Excerpts Of President Biden's Montco Speech Released Ahead Of Time

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — President Joe Biden will cast former President Trump and the Jan. 6 Capitol riots as an example of "holding on to power relentlessly" in a manner directly contrary to George Washington and America's Founding Fathers during his speech in Montgomery County Friday afternoon.

That's according to a selection of Biden's prepared remarks provided to Patch ahead of the speech at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell at 3:15 p.m.

Biden's first stop in the Philly area came just after 1 p.m. when his Marine One chopper landed at Valley Forge National Historical Park, where Washington and the Continental Army wintered in 1777-1778. His speech Friday, the day before the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 attacks, uses that imagery as expected.

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“George Washington was at the height of his power having just defeated the most powerful empire on Earth," the prepared remarks read. "He could have held onto that power as long as he wanted. But that wasn’t the America he and the American troops of Valley Forge had fought for."

It's a not so subtle reference to Trump and his supporters' insistence that the 2020 election was "stolen," and that the results should be overturned to keep Trump in office. Those claims that have been proven to have no validity.

The speech, or at least the excerpts released ahead of time, make little or no mention of specific policies or major issues currently rocking the globe, including the climate crisis, the bloodshed in the Middle East, or Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine.

During his visit to Valley Forge, the President and First Lady Jill Biden visited the National Memorial Arch, one of the park's most iconic features. Biden was seen laying a wreath at the arch.

See also: President Biden Lands In Valley Forge National Park On Marine One

Biden is the first President to visit Valley Forge since Gerald Ford, who came when Valley Forge was officially designated a National Park in 1976, according to the National Park Service.

Biden remarks "as prepared for delivery"

The excerpts provided by a Biden campaign spokesperson are included below:

“Today we are here to answer the most important of questions: Is democracy still America’s sacred cause?

“This isn’t rhetorical, academic, or hypothetical. Whether democracy is still America’s sacred cause is the most urgent question of our time.

“It is what the 2024 election is all about.”

—

“When the attacks of January 6th happened, there was no doubt about the truth.

At the time, even Republican members of Congress and Fox News commentators publicly and privately condemned the attack. And as one Republican Senator said, Trump’s behavior was embarrassing and humiliating for the country.

“But now as time has gone on — politics, fear, money – have all intervened. And those MAGA voices who know the truth about Trump and January 6th have abandoned the truth and abandoned our democracy. They’ve made their choice. Now the rest of us – Democrats, Independents, mainstream Republicans – we have to make our choice.

"I know mine. And I believe I know America’s.”

—

“The mob that attacked the Capitol on January 6th, waving Trump flags and Confederate flags, stormed right past the portrait. The image of George Washington gave them no pause – but it should have.

“The artist who painted the portrait memorialized this moment because he said it was ‘one of the highest moral lessons ever given to the world.’

“George Washington was at the height of his power having just defeated the most powerful empire on Earth. He could have held onto that power as long as he wanted. But that wasn’t the America he and the American troops of Valley Forge had fought for.

"In America, our leaders don’t hold on to power relentlessly. Our leaders return power to the people – willingly. You do your duty. You serve your country. And ours is a country worthy of service. We are not perfect, but at our best, we face head on the good, the bad, the truth of who we are. That’s what great nations do, and we are a great nation – the greatest of nations.

“That’s the America I see in our future.

“We get up. We carry on. We speak of possibilities – not carnage. We’re not weighed down by grievance. We don’t foster fear. We don’t walk around as victims. We take charge of our destiny.

“We get the job done – to help people find their place in a changing world and dream and build the future we all deserve.

“We don’t believe America is failing. We know America is winning. That’s American patriotism.”