Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused Democrats of hiding President Biden’s “cognitive abilities” and engaging in “the greatest cover-up in political history.”
Trump, 78, made the allegations at a campaign rally in Doral, Fla. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee has seen a growing number of Democrats call for the 81-year-old president to end his reelection bid after his disastrous defeat in the June 27 debate.
“Joe, Kamala and the entire Democratic establishment were caught red-handed in the midst of the biggest scandal and biggest cover-up ever,” the former president said, alleging a conspiracy involving Vice President Kamala Harris and other senior Democratic Party officials to hide Biden’s declining cognitive abilities from the public.
“This is a cover-up. That’s a fact,” Trump insisted. “I said so when they hid this guy in the basement.”
“This is the greatest cover-up in political history,” he continued, calling it “a sinister plot to deceive the American people about the cognitive abilities of the man in the Oval Office.”
Trump accused Harris, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) of “conspiring.”
“Every Democratic cabinet member was in on this. Everybody knew this man was wildly incompetent and every Democrat in the House and Senate was in on this. This was a fraud and the American people can never trust this pack of liars again,” he said, claiming the alleged conspiracy “put our country at great risk and danger.”
Trump, who held a rally on the 10th hole at Doral Golf Course, also challenged Biden to a round of golf at a resort near Miami and offered to donate a $1 million check to a charity of the president’s choice if he won.
“I now officially challenge Crowded Joe to an 18-hole golf game,” the former president said, saying the opportunity was for Biden to “redeem himself in front of the whole world” after his poor debate performance.
“It’s going to be one of the most-watched sporting events of all time. It may even be bigger than the Ryder Cup or the Masters,” Trump argued, “and I’m going to beat Joe Biden by 10 strokes.”
“If he wins, he will donate $1 million to a charity of his choice, any charity of his choice,” Trump declared.
Also attending Tuesday’s rally was Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who is believed to be on Trump’s shortlist to be his running mate.
The former president called Rubio “my friend” despite their “intense” 2016 Republican presidential primary.
Trump suggested that reporters covering the rally had expected him to announce Rubio as his running mate.
“They probably think I announced that Marco was going to be vice president, because that’s a lot of press,” Trump said. “That’s a lot of press.”
He also joked that he “has no idea” whether Rubio will be in the Senate to pass his bill to repeal the tip tax in 2025.
Joining the former president was his youngest son, 18-year-old Barron Trump, who his father called a “very special man.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen my son do this, Barron … stand up,” Trump said, as his son stood and pumped his fist in the face to the crowd.
“You’re very popular,” Trump told his youngest son.
“He may be more popular than Don and Eric,” the former president added, referring to his other two sons.
