The difference between how Democrats handled their election defeat this year and how Donald Trump acted in 2020 should leave no doubt as to who the real threat to democracy is.
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While the difference between the White House’s reaction to this year’s election and the one in 2020 should be painfully obvious to every single American, it is also important to highlight them.
Four years ago, Donald Trump reacted to his defeat to Joe Biden with a failed coup and a deadly insurrection.
He never conceded and spent the time from his loss to Biden’s inauguration, which he did not attend, propagating the Big Lie. Without ever presenting any real evidence, he filed one lawsuit after another (which he then lost) and riled up his followers.
His post-election actions, including his incitement of the January 6 attack on Congress (and the certification of the Electoral College votes), earned him a second impeachment and two separate criminal indictments.
What a difference four years makes.
While Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris could hardly be blamed for giving Trump the cold shoulder, they have instead chosen to handle their defeat with grace and offers of assistance.
As we predicted, they have conducted themselves like all the other White House occupants who peacefully handed over power to their successors. Well, all of them apart from Trump.
On Saturday, Biden invited the president-elect to visit the Oval Office on Wednesday… even though the same courtesy was never extended to him, and even though Trump has sought to undermine the legitimacy of his 2020 victory to this day.
And, when it became clear on Wednesday that she had lost, Harris called her opponent, who had insulted her in the vilest ways on the campaign trail, to concede.
“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for,” she told her supporters.
“I know folks are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now. I get it, but we must accept the results of this election,” Harris added. “Earlier today, I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory. I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power.”
While all of these seem like normal actions, it is crucial to draw the distinction between 2020 and this year, especially because both parties and candidates accused each other of being a threat to democracy.
However, while Trump impeded the transition of power every step of the way, the Democrats are doing the opposite.
That alone should leave no doubt as to who the threat to democracy was… and is.
All of these may seem like small things, and they certainly used to be.
But Trump has shown us all that these common courtesies should never be taken for granted… especially when the US has never been in greater danger of sliding into fascism than today.
