Former GOP rep says Trump ‘appeals to the worst of us,’ calls on Biden ‘to recognize the moment’

Former Republican Rep. Joe Walsh (Ill.) said former President Trump “appeals to the worst of us” when discussing Trump’s rhetoric and called on President Biden to “recognize the moment” when appealing to voters heading into November. 

Walsh, who served one term in the House, criticized Trump and called him an “evil demagogue.” 

“I mean Trump appeals to the worst of us, and [Biden]’s going to drive this home as best as he can,” Walsh said during his Saturday appearance on MSNBC’s “The Weekend.” “We’re living in a populist moment. Trump is an evil demagogue who throws horrible stuff at us about this populist moment. The American people are angry.”

The former GOP member was reacting to some of the remarks Trump made while campaigning. Trump said during his March rally in Ohio that there would be a “bloodbath” for the automobile industry if he is not elected in November. Trump was also criticized for using the phrase “poisoning the blood of our country” when mentioning immigrants coming into the U.S. during a rally in New Hampshire in December. 

Walsh, who briefly ran against Trump in 2020, said that Biden and the Democrats need to capitalize now with seven months to go until Election Day. 

“I think Biden and that team needs to recognize the moment and appeal to the best of us,” he said. “This is not who we are. I get we’re angry, and the Democrats need to recognize the anger, but not demagogue it like Trump is.”

Walsh served in the lower chamber from 2011 to 2013. Despite voting for Trump in 2016, Walsh was critical of the former president during his 2020 presidential reelection bid.