The 2024 presidential campaigns of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump engaged in a heated exchange on social media over Trump’s suggestion that he may be allowed to take money from a foreign government to pay a bond required for an appeal of his New York civil fraud judgment. After a ruling by New York’s appellate court reducing the bond amount and giving Trump an additional 10 days to pay, he held a press conference where he was asked by a reporter if he would accept money from a foreign government to pay the bond. Trump responded that he does not do that, but suggested that it might be allowed. The Biden campaign criticized Trump’s response and accused him of insisting that he could use foreign money to pay the bond.
The Trump campaign responded by denying the Biden campaign’s claim and instead accused Biden of being bought and paid for by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), although this claim lacks evidence. The back-and-forth continued with the Biden campaign sharing an old tweet from an infamous social media personality and the Trump campaign sharing a video of Biden stumbling multiple times without comment. Both campaigns were contacted for comment by Newsweek, highlighting the role of social media in political discourse.
The Biden campaign has taken a more aggressive social media approach against Trump as the election approaches, with Trump facing ongoing legal challenges. Trump’s behavior during the press conference was mocked by the Biden campaign, which issued a statement calling him weak and desperate. In response, the Trump campaign’s Communications Director criticized the Biden campaign, suggesting that Biden was either still in bed or receiving B12 shots, indicating a growing tension between the two campaigns.
The exchange on social media underscores the importance of digital communication in shaping public perception during political campaigns. While Trump has been known for his prolific use of social media throughout his political career, the Biden campaign has also employed social media platforms to challenge Trump’s statements and behavior. As the election date draws nearer, both campaigns are ramping up their efforts to reach voters and shape the narrative surrounding their respective candidates.
